Shutterstock
The Pittsburgh Steelers made a trade to get Mike Williams from the New York Jets. They really needed a wide receiver, so this was an important move for them. Omar Khan, the team’s general manager, decided to give up a fifth-round draft pick to make it happen. This was the same kind of deal the Tennessee Titans made when they traded DeAndre Hopkins to the Chiefs.
But that wasn’t all Khan had planned. He had more players on his list for the trade deadline. If Williams can learn to catch those high passes, he might just be the perfect partner for Russell Wilson as a WR2. Maybe. Just maybe.
In another twist, the Steelers surprised everyone by trading with the Green Bay Packers. They brought in Preston Smith to add some depth behind their star pass rushers TJ Watt and Alex Highsmith. Smith, although 32 years old, has been a reliable player for the Packers, starting in multiple games this season and last.
Smith’s experience could be valuable for the Steelers, especially in certain defensive situations. He might even play some inside linebacker during passing downs. The Steelers only had to send a seventh-round pick to Green Bay for him, which seems like a pretty good deal considering Smith’s track record.
Trade compensation update, per sources: Steelers are sending a 7th-round pick to the Packers in exchange for edge rusher Preston Smith. pic.twitter.com/7Ftww4qrM7
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 5, 2024
Smith has made a significant impact during his time with the Packers, ranking 11th on their all-time sack list with 47.5 sacks. It’s impressive that Pittsburgh managed to acquire such talent for just a seventh-rounder.
While Khan might have overpaid for Williams, landing Smith at such a low cost is surprising. Perhaps Green Bay’s Brian Gutekunst knows something we don’t, but Smith will surely bolster Pittsburgh’s already strong defense.
Pittsburgh Steelers trade grade: B+
Green Bay Packers trade grade: C.
