Category: Steelers trade scenarios

Insider believes Steelers pursued D.K. Metcalf at trade deadline

After an eventful trade deadline, insider Jeremy Fowler believes Pittsburgh was one of several teams in inquire about a D.K. Metcalf trade.

It appears Pittsburgh’s trade to acquire WR Mike Williams, which Steelers fans have excitedly embraced, may not have happened if the Seattle Seahawks hadn’t treated trade talks as a “nonstarter,” per insider Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.

In an ESPN article co-written with fellow insider Dan Graziano, Fowler revealed several interesting and previously unheard details from the trade deadline. One notable scoop was Fowler’s claim that not only did Pittsburgh “scour the earth for receiver help,” but the ESPN insider also believes the Steelers were one of several teams to inquire about a possible trade for Seahawks WR D.K. Metcalf.

While a Russell Wilson-Metcalf reunion would have been an amazing sight for fans of the Black and Gold to behold, the trade would likely have been far too expensive for Steelers’ GM Omar Khan‘s tastes.

There is no refuge in looking back at what could have been, as the team now has a bona fide WR2, and the Wilson-Williams combo could be ‘DangeRuss.’

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Pittsburgh radio host describes rumored trade package for Jaguars’ WR

Pittsburgh radio host Andrew Filliponi of 93.7 The Fan discussed the rumored trade package for WR Christian Kirk, prior to his injury.

It is rumored that the ‘Khan Artist’ was nearly conned at his own game. The Pittsburgh Steelers’ General Manager Omar Khan is beloved in the Steel City for his stellar draft selections, trade negotiations, and free agency signings.

However, a rumor coined by Pittsburgh radio host Andrew Filliponi of 93.7 The Fan, described on social media, suggests that the Steelers were extremely close to overpaying in a trade for Jacksonville Jaguars WR Christian Kirk, prior to his season-ending collarbone injury.

According to Filliponi, the rumor claimed Pittsburgh would have sent a 2025 third-round draft selection to Jacksonville in exchange for Kirk..

While fans should take the rumor with a grain of salt, if true, the Steelers’ trade for New York Jets WR Mike Williams looks even more outstanding, as the 2025 fifth-round compensation given up is nowhere near as valuable as a third-round draft pick.

Williams should fit nicely into the offensive scheme in Pittsburgh, and fans could catch a glimpse of the Russell Wilson-Williams connection as early as Week 10, when the Steelers take on the Commanders on November 10th at 1:00 PM EST.

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Can Calvin Austin fend off the newly acquired Mike Williams for WR2?

The Steelers’ acquisition of WR Mike Williams from the Jets complicated Calvin Austin’s breakout and bid for WR2.

2024 has truly been one of the most exciting times to be a Pittsburgh Steelers fan! From acquiring prominent players in free agency to breaking the Steel City norm with several huge trades, Pittsburgh fans have every reason to love what they’re seeing from their team and the Steelers front office.

However, one Steelers WR, who seemingly broke out in the team’s Week 8 victory, may need to continue his dominance to fend off the newly acquired WR Mike Williams.

WR Calvin Austin III tore through the New York Giants’ secondary and special teams in Week 8, recording 54 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown on just three receptions, as well as shifting the momentum for his team with a 73-yard punt return touchdown.

After his two-touchdown night, fans assumed Austin could step in as the team’s WR2 moving forward. However, when the New York Jets traded Williams to Pittsburgh, it complicated matters for Austin’s offensive involvement.

Can Austin coexist with Williams as potential WR2-A and WR2-B? Or will Mike Tomlin have another “good” problem on his hands with yet another elite positional battle?

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Cordarrelle Patterson has hilarious reaction to WR Mike Williams trade

RB Cordarrelle Patterson, the Steelers’ number one recruiter, had an amazing reaction to the Mike Williams trade news.

While the Steelers’ General Manager Omar Khan pulled off an unbelievable heist at the trade deadline, acquiring wide receiver and outside linebacker help for the team, he doesn’t deserve all the credit. One man has spent time and energy, week in and week out, recruiting receivers to play for the Steel City.

This would be none other than the Steelers’ RB Cordarrelle Patterson, who had recently attempted to recruit WR Davante Adams from the Las Vegas Raiders, who ended up with the New York Jets, and D.K. Metcalf, who ultimately remained with his Seattle Seahawks, and last but surely not least, the former New York Jet and newly acquired Steelers’ WR Mike Williams.

Patterson, realizing he had hit a homerun for the Steel City, jokingly had this to say on social media.

While Steelers fans understand how little impact Patterson truly had on this trade unfolding, as most of the credit belongs to the team’s front office, his witty humor and constant barrage of recruitment tactics brought laughter to Pittsburgh fans throughout the 2024 season.

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Steelers fans react to OLB Preston Smith trade

Former Packers’ OLB Preston Smith’s unexpected trade to the Steelers adds valuable depth to the defense, and was surprising to fans alike.

One of the most underrated acquisitions at the 2024 NFL trade deadline was OLB Preston Smith being traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers. It had been reported in recent days that while wide receiver was a major area of concern for the Steel City, the team could prioritize trading for edge rusher depth.

Much to the surprise of absolutely no one, the team did, in fact, acquire a wide receiver at the deadline, Mike Williams from the New York Jets, but also acquired defensive depth from the Green Bay Packers in the 31-year-old Smith, who should plug in nicely behind outside linebackers T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith.

While fans of the Black and Gold have been clamoring for their team to make a WR trade for months, Smith was a welcomed surprise. Here are some of the best reactions to Pittsburgh trading a 2025 seventh-round draft pick for the Green Bay Packers’ OLB Preston Smith.

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Trade Deadline: Grading the Steelers acquisition of OLB Preston Smith

Steelers trade a 2025 7th-round pick for Preston Smith, adding veteran power to their defense. How does this move grade out?

Teams throughout the NFL better watch out; there’s a new terrifying trio of edge rushers coming to sack their quarterback. Steelers’ outside linebackers T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith, and the newly acquired Preston Smith form arguably the greatest edge-rushing unit in the NFL today.

Smith was recently acquired at the 2024 NFL trade deadline when the Pittsburgh Steelers traded a 2025 seventh-round draft pick to the Green Bay Packers in exchange for his talents in the Steel City.

Pittsburgh General Manager Omar Khan had recently helped facilitate a trade to acquire WR Mike Williams from the New York Jets, which received a solid B grade here at Steelers Wire. But what about the acquisition of Smith?

The 31-year-old former Packers OLB provides quality starting experience behind Watt and Highsmith, as Smith has started 138 games since entering the league in 2015. Smith has accumulated 68.5 sacks over this period and comes to Pittsburgh in what can only be described as a bargain sale in Green Bay.

For only a 2025 seventh-round draft pick given up for Smith, Khan and the Steelers’ front office receive an A+ grade for the trade.

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New York Jets’ QB Aaron Rodgers reacts to WR Mike Williams trade

While appearing on the Pat McAfee Show, New York Jets’ QB Aaron Rodgers reacts live to the news of WR Mike Williams trade to Pittsburgh.

Former Indianapolis Colts’ All-Pro punter Pat McAfee brought on his guest, New York Jets’ QB Aaron Rodgers, in the truly the right place and time, as Rodgers was able to react live to insider Adam Schefter’s report that the Pittsburgh Steelers acquiring his former Jets’ teammate, WR Mike Williams, via trade.

McAfee asked Rodgers for his intitial reaction and what Williams meant to the 2024 New York Jets’ team.  While Rodgers could have taken this opportunity to make Williams position on the team seem replaceable, Rodgers took the opportunity to relate with Williams’ struggles with injuries and amazing recovery, stating that “I felt like he was getting better throughout the early part of the season.  I feel like his speed was getting better.  That’s a tough injury, I had that injury.”

The injury Rodgers referenced is one in which Williams tore his ACL during his 2023 season with the Los Angeles Chargers.

While Williams would surely appreciate the kind words from his former QB on the Jets, he is no doubt looking forward to getting the opportunity to show the NFL exactly what he is capable of with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2024.

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Trade Deadline: Grading the Steelers acquisition of WR Mike Williams

The Steelers acquired WR Mike Williams before the trade deadline; was the fifth-round pick worth it, or did Pittsburgh overpay for talent?

Pittsburgh fans rejoice!  General Manager Omar Khan has finally pulled the trigger on acquiring a fantastic WR opposite George Pickens when the Steelers traded for New York Jets’ WR Mike Williams.

The Khan artist, as fans often refer to him, had high expectations placed on him as Pittsburgh was hours away from the 4:00 PM EST trade deadline. While Williams is an incredible talent and a welcome addition to the team, did Khan overpay the Jets in this trade?

It was no secret that Pittsburgh needed a WR at the deadline, but it was always public knowledge that Williams was the odd man out in a stacked WR room in New York. With this being said, givHopkins? 2025 fifth-round draft selection, the same price that Kansas City paid for former All-Pro WR DeAndre Hopkins, seems a bit steep for a player who was being used so sparingly in the Aaron Rodgers-led New York offense.

While the Steelers’ front office did potentially create an unstoppable WR unit by acquiring Williams, the compensation package could have been cheaper, resulting in a B grade.

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Report: Steelers trading for New York Jets’ WR Mike Williams

The Pittsburgh Steelers are acquiring WR Mike Williams from the Jets for a 2025 5th-round pick.

It appears Steelers RB Cordarrelle Patterson‘s fantastic recruiting has paid dividends for Pittsburgh, as the team has finally acquired their WR2.

Insider Adam Schefter reported on Tuesday afternoon that Pittsburgh would be acquiring WR Mike Williams from the New York Jets in exchange for a 2025 fifth-round draft selection, less than a few hours from the 4:00 PM EST trade deadline.

Williams, throughout his eight-year career, has 4,972 receiving yards on 321 receptions and 31 receiving touchdowns. He is most known for his seven seasons with the Los Angeles Chargers, and his best statistical season with the team in 2021—1,146 receiving yards, 76 receptions, and nine touchdowns.

The newly acquired Steelers WR has struggled to stay healthy, missing 16 games combined in 2022 and 2023. However, Williams seems revitalized and looking to make an impact on the Pittsburgh Steelers offense.

It remains to be seen how quickly Williams can get acclimated to the Steelers’ offensive scheme, but once he and QB Russell Wilson are on the same page, secondaries around the NFL better prepare to be cooked.

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Steelers’ Week 10 opponent acquires 4x Pro Bowl CB at trade deadline

Washington bolstered their defense by acquiring 4x Pro Bowl CB Marshon Lattimore ahead of Week 10 matchup against the Steelers.

As if the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Week 10 matchup against the Washington Commanders couldn’t be more difficult. In a day filled with exciting trade revelations, insider Adam Schefter reported that Washington would acquire four-time Pro Bowler CB Marshon Lattimore from the New Orleans Saints.

Lattimore is currently recovering from a hamstring injury, but Washington was in dire need of finding additional support at the CB position to shore up their secondary and remain competitive in the NFC.

The lockdown CB has been a staple of a tough New Orleans defense ever since he was drafted back in 2017, winning Defensive Rookie of the Year that very season and solidifying himself as one of the premier cornerbacks in the league.

It remains to be seen how much, if at all, Lattimore will impact the Week 10 contest versus the Pittsburgh Steelers. If Lattimore is available to play, having the CB play man coverage against George Pickens, or perhaps a potential newly acquired Steelers’ WR at the trade deadline, would be an exciting matchup, to say the least.

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