Steelers announce trade for LB Avery Williamson

The Pittsburgh Steelers formally announced their trade with the New York Jets to acquire linebacker Avery Williamson.

Late Sunday night the news broke that the Pittsburgh Steelers were working on a trade with the New York Jets to bring versatile inside linebacker Avery Williamson to the Steelers. Early Monday morning the team made the move official.

Pittsburgh wasted no time in making the move after the team’s win over the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday. The Steelers spent the last two games trying to put together a formula to account for the absence of Devin Bush with limited success.

The addition of Williamson changes this up. He’s a complete three-down linebacker who gives the Steelers much more scheme versatility when it comes to sub-package defense, Williamson is a tackling machine but has also been used as a blitzer and in coverage.

The trade for the Steelers turns out to be a bargain. It costs them nothing in draft picks for 2021 and when Williamson ultimately leaves in free agency at the end of the season the Steelers will a fifth-rounder back as a compensatory pick.

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