The New York Jets and Pittsburgh Steelers are set to compete in an upcoming NFL contest, and rumors are swirling around wide receiver Mike Williams.
According to ESPN NFL Insider Jeremy Fowler, the Pittsburgh Steelers have “shown interest in a potential trade” for Williams, who is reportedly on the trade “block.” Fowler noted that Williams is open to moving to a new team, and Pittsburgh has been actively searching for receiver help. However, any trade would have to wait until after the two teams’ Week 7 matchup, as trading Williams beforehand could have given the Steelers a strategic advantage.
Williams, who signed with the Jets on March 19, has been with the team for months. Trading him to an opponent right before playing them could have created a scenario where Williams might reveal critical information to the Steelers, potentially impacting the game.
From the Jets’ perspective, moving Williams might not make much sense.
NFL Insider Dianna Russini of The Athletic reported that several teams, including the Steelers, Los Angeles Chargers, and New Orleans Saints, have inquired about a trade for Williams. However, the financial benefits are minimal. Williams is currently on a one-year, $10 million deal, and trading him would result in less than $1 million in cap savings. Additionally, due to void years on his contract, the Jets would still owe $1.469 million per year through 2028, as noted by Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic.
Besides the limited cap relief, the Jets would likely receive little in return for a 30-year-old wide receiver recovering from ACL surgery. Rosenblatt emphasized that Williams doesn’t appear fully recovered from the injury, making it unlikely the Jets would get significant trade compensation.
This season is pivotal for the Jets, who are under pressure to win, make the playoffs, and go deep into the postseason. Given those stakes, trading Williams for minimal return may not be the best move.
As for Williams, he missed the first two days of practice leading up to the Steelers game for what the team described as “personal reasons.” When asked about it, Williams said, “Just… personal stuff. I’d rather not speak about [it],” during a press conference on October 18.
The Jets also made headlines this week with a major trade, acquiring wide receiver Davante Adams from the Las Vegas Raiders. This came just a day after quarterback Aaron Rodgers publicly criticized Williams for running the wrong route during an interception against the Buffalo Bills. However, Williams brushed off any frustration with Rodgers, saying, “Nah. No, I just gotta be on the red line,” smiling as he responded.
Despite the speculation, Williams expressed his excitement about the Jets’ wide receiver room, calling it “elite” and one of the best in the league. He looked forward to learning from Adams, who he praised as being among the top two or three wide receivers in the NFL. Williams also revealed that Rodgers had reached out to him privately after the game to talk things over.
