Tag: Steelers trade

What is going on with WR Mike Williams?

The Steelers’ wide receiver room has seen changes, but questions remain about WR Mike Williams’ role in the team’s offensive strategy.

The more things change, the more they stay the same. Such is the life of the 2024 Pittsburgh Steelers‘ wide receiver room. While the Steelers addressed potential depth issues through free agency, the draft, and the trade deadline with WRs Van Jefferson, Roman Wilson, and Mike Williams respectively, there has been almost nothing from these three to show for it.

Specifically, much of the hype surrounding the Williams acquisition leaves fans scratching their heads over why his usage has been so minimal.

His Week 10 debut saw him score the game-deciding TD, but he hasn’t received a single target in either Week 11 or Week 12’s contest.

In his recent disappearing act, Calvin Austin III has stepped up in a big way, but it doesn’t excuse the Steelers’ poor usage of Wilson.

The issue likely stems from the offensive scheme, much to the frustration of fans, as OC Arthur Smith’s predictable running calls have limited the Steelers’ passing opportunities in recent weeks.

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Best-case scenario for the 2 newest members of the Steelers

The Steelers traded for Preston Smith and Mike Williams on Tuesday.

Pittsburgh Steelers General Manager Omar Khan was a busy guy on Tuesday ahead of the NFL trade deadline. Khan pulled off two trades bringing in wide receiver Mike Williams and outside linebacker Preston Smith. Based on the compensation and salary cap information, these were trades that improved the roster without a huge investment.

This week the Steelers go on the road to take on the Washington Commanders and while we don’t expect a huge impact from Williams or Smith on Sunday, here is what we consider the best-case scenario for both players as the season goes on.

For Williams, his ability to win contested catches and work deep fits perfectly with what the Steelers are doing on offense with Russell Wilson at quarterback. He and George Pickens can become a dynamic duo downfield and really free up the run game while added more explosive plays in the passing game.

As for Smith, he’s more about depth. We expect Williams to eventually be the team’s No. 2 wide receiver on the outside but Smith is in line to be a very highly paid No. 4 edge rusher. We are hopeful this doesn’t become a Melvin Ingram situation and Smith is OK with a limited role behind Either T.J. Watt or Alex Highsmith. Until Nick Herbig is 100 percent, Smith could see a larger role so he might be pressed into service quicker than Williams.

Overall, we expect both of these players to improve this team. We give both of these trades and can’t wait to see what they bring once they are up to speed in the system.

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Steelers trade update: Compensation the issue with WR Adam Thielen

The Steelers are working on adding a wide receiver.

According to ESPN NFL reporter Adam Schefter, the Pittsburgh Steelers are working on a trade for a wide receiver but things aren’t going great. Schefter was on the Pat McAfee show and said the Steelers are interested in Carolina Panthers wide receiver Adam Thielen but noted the two sides are far apart on the compensation.

Thielen is 34 years old and in his 11th NFL season. He has only appeared in three games this season for the Panthers. He has eight receptions and has been dealing with a hamstring injury that sent him to IR.

Just a season ago, Thielen had 103 receptions for 1,014 yards so the skills are still there. It was Thielen’s second 100+ reception season of his career. Thielen spent his first nine seasons with the Vikings where he caught 534 passes.

Thielen would definitely be an asset to an emerging Steelers passing game but it’s clear the Steelers have no interest in overpaying for any player.

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Steelers linked to yet another wide receiver trade

The Steelers are starting to run out of options if they want to trade for a wide receiver.

The Pittsburgh Steelers and wide receiver trade rumors are starting to sound like the boy who cried wolf. After missing out on multiple big-name receivers so far, it seems that every time a receiver is even potentially on the market, someone has a source who links the Steelers to them.

The latest is NFL reporter Dianna Russini. She put out the post below on social media indicating that the Steelers are one of the teams who have reached out to the New York Jets about the availability of wide receiver Mike Williams via trade. The Jet just traded for Davante Adams, making Williams expendable.

Williams is 30 years old and has been in the league since 2017. He’s had two 1,000-yard receiving seasons but based on recent performance his best games are behind him. Nevertheless, a washed-up Williams would still be the second-best receiver on the Steelers roster and wouldn’t cost much in a trade

This weekend the Steelers welcome those same Jets to Pittsburgh for a Sunday night game.

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Sneaky reason the Steelers should start Russell Wilson vs the Jets

There might be a method to Mike Tomlin’s madness with starting Russell Wilson this week.

When Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin addresses the media on Friday, we should have our answer as to whether it is Russell Wilson or Justin Fields starting versus the New York Jets this Sunday night. Tomlin said on Tuesday he was leaving the option open for Wilson now that he is 100 percent healthy.

It might seem insane for Tomlin to sit Fields down after going 4-2 as a starter and scoring 10 total touchdowns. But there might be a method to his madness. Just hear me out.

The Jets are a bad football team. They just fired their head coach last week after an awful start. Tomlin could view this game at home in prime time as a very winnable game and he can afford to play Wilson if the team is planning to trade one of their starting quarterbacks before the November 5 trade deadline.

If the team wants to trade Fields, why not start Wilson this week just to see what you have and be sure it’s safe to deal Fields. Or maybe the team wants to trade Wilson and wants to give him a game to show out and make an impression on a prospective team.

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NFL insider confirms Steelers interest in wide receiver

The Steelers have shown an interest in trading for wide receiver Davante Adams.

The big news in the NFL right now is that Las Vegas Raiders star wide receiver Davante Adams wants to be traded. According to NFL reporter Josina Anderson, the Pittsburgh Steelers are one of several teams who have shown an interest in trading for the star wideout.

It makes perfect sense that the Steelers would look to trade for Adams after spending almost the entire offseason hoping to trade for San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk. Adams is five years the senior of Aiyuk but I think most would agree he’s every bit as talented and has been more productive over the course of his career.

Pittsburgh’s leading receiver through four games is George Pickens with 20 catches. The next best receiver on the roster has been Calvin Austin III who only has seven catches. Quarterback Justin Fields had his first 300-yard passing game last week so it only makes sense for Pittsburgh to add Fields another weapon to help with his development.

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Steelers might have played their way out of contention for WR Brandon Aiyuk

The Steelers offense has been so bad, Brandon Aiyuk might not want to come to Pittsburgh.

Things have been quiet the last week on the Brandon Ayiuk trade front. The Pittsburgh Steelers have been in the mix to trade for the San Francisco 49ers wide receiver going all the way back to March. Each time the two sides seem to be getting close, something comes up and puts the brakes on everything.

Through two weeks of the preseason, the Steelers’ offense has shown without a doubt just how badly they need Aiyuk to help inject some life into an anemic offense. However, that anemic offense might be enough to Push Aiyuk to take the Steelers off his list completely.

Nothing we’ve seen over the last two weeks gives us any confidence that Pittsburgh will be able to generate any sort of consistent passing game. Aiyuk is one of the best young receivers in the NFL. Aside from money, what would be Aiyuk’s motivation to join this team, given how badly the offensive line and quarterbacks have played?

The Niners are one of the best teams in the NFL. Could Aiyuk have a change of heart and decide a little less money this season is worth playing on a much better team?

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49ers’ Aiyuk has option to remain in the Bay or move to Pittsburgh

In a deal that sources say is now green-lit, the veteran player has the choice to move to Pittsburgh or stay in San Francisco where he looks to get an extension from the 49ers, a team eager to keep their star player on the roster.

There has been a lot of speculation on whether the San Francisco 49ers and Pittsburgh Steelers will reach a trade deal involving wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, a 49ers’ 2020 first-round draft pick who has since logged 3,931 receiving yards and 269 receptions and was a critical player in the narrow overtime loss to the Chiefs Super Bowl LVIII.

In a deal that sources say is now green-lit, the veteran player has the choice to move to Pittsburgh or stay in San Francisco where he looks to get an extension from the 49ers, a team eager to keep their star player on the roster.

Ian Rapoport shared this update today on Twitter

It is still unclear where Aiyuk will be playing in the future, but the experienced wide receiver has the choice between two teams eager to have him on the roster and out on the field at this juncture in his NFL career.

Niners’ reported asking price for WR Brandon Aiyuk is more than reasonable

The Steelers can’t seem to escape this Brandon Aiyuk drama.

For everyone saying they are tired of reading about the Brandon Aiyuk drama, trust us, we want some closure on it as well. Every single day there are reports and rumors coming out that connect the San Francisco 49ers wide receiver with the Pittsburgh Steelers on some level.

The latest involves the reported trade demands for Aiyuk, courtesy of NBC Sports Bay Area reporter Matt Maiocco. According to Maiocco, the Niners are asking for second- and third-round picks as part of the deal.

No mention of a premier player in the deal from the Steelers or a wide receiver going back. Just draft picks.

If this is the case, we don’t get why the Steelers haven’t jumped on this deal. Unless it is less about the trade and more about the contract demands on Aiyuk once he joins the team. There are reports that Aiyuk is asking for $30 million per year. This could be a huge stumbling block for any team looking to add him.

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Steelers writer says Niners looking for premier player in potential Aiyuk trade

If the Niners want George Pickens, should the Steelers make the deal?

According to Pittsburgh Steelers beat writer Gerry Dulac, the ball is in the Niners court as far as a trade for wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk. According to Dulac, the Niners would like a wide receiver to replace Brandon Aiyuk in any trade and other sources have noted San Francisco wants a premier player as part of the deal.

If we are talking wide receiver, you have to assume the only one of any value on the Steelers roster is George Pickens. A swap of Pickens and Aiyuk is probably a net upgrade for Pittsburgh but still leaves them one starting wide receiver short.

However, Aiyuk can do more for the offense as a whole and would elevate the value of guys like Van Jefferson, Roman Wilson and Calvin Austin III in the scheme.

We’ve already talked about how the Steelers have multiple offensive linemen including both starting guards and starting tackle Dan Moore Jr. who could be part of the deal. With rookie Mason McCormick in the folds, James Daniels and Isaac Seumalo could be on the block and fellow rookie Troy Fautanu is pushing Moore for a spot in the starting lineup.

There’s also outside linebacker Alex Highsmith. Highsmith is a premier pass rusher and if the Steelers are sold on Nick Herbig, he could be an option. The team also re-signed veteran Markus Golden and he could be the primary backup.

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