OCTOBER 19: For the time being, at least, talks between the Jets and Steelers about Williams are on hold. Negotiations will be paused until after the teams play each other tomorrow, ESPN’s Adam Schefter and Rich Cimini report. Depending on how that contest – which Williams is set to take part in – plays out, it will be interesting to see how Pittsburgh and New York proceed.
OCTOBER 17: For the second time this year, Mike Williams has generated trade discussions. Months after talks in March, he is not attached to a high-end contract a team is desperate to move. Though, the team that authorized Williams’ 2022 deal is back in on the suddenly available wide receiver.
The Chargers are among the teams to have inquired with the Jets on Williams, according to The Athletic’s Dianna Russini, who reports the Saints and Steelers have reached out on the eighth-year veteran as well. Following their Davante Adams acquisition, the Jets are prepared to move on from Williams.
No move is expected this week, but ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler adds Williams would be open with being moved out of New York. Although he has not assimilated too well into the Jets’ Aaron Rodgers-orchestrated offense — to the point the four-time MVP was critical of his route on a late-game interception — enough teams are still in need at the position that a deal should be made eventually. The Jets have until Nov. 5 to move on via trade.
The Bolts dangled Williams in trades just before the 2024 league year began, attempting to move his $20MM-per-year contract to reach cap compliance. They ended up doing so via release, cutting the Clemson alum before trading Keenan Allen to the Bears. The Patriots were linked to Williams at the time, before becoming tied to a few other receivers, but it is not known if New England is back in on the former top-10 pick. Williams, 30, however, is generating interest from other clubs who have been linked to WRs this year.
Pittsburgh joined New England in the Brandon Aiyuk market, beating out other suitors in agreeing to trade framework with San Francisco. Although the Steelers waited out that situation for weeks, Aiyuk signed a 49ers extension. This left Pittsburgh thin at receiver, with no clear complement to George Pickens emerging through six games. Known more for trading wideouts for draft picks rather than acquiring them, the Steelers have been scouring the market since Aiyuk ultimately passed. Omar Khan‘s team, however, was in on Adams. Though, the three-year Raiders wideout had been more interested in reuniting with Rodgers or Derek Carr.
Lacking the cap space to take on Adams’ contract without significant payroll adjustments, the Saints ended up seeing the Jets do so. After starting 2-0, New Orleans has lost four straight. The team is also heading into its Thursday-night matchup with Denver down both its top pass catchers. Chris Olave is in concussion protocol, and Rashid Shaheed is undergoing an exploratory meniscus surgery that leaves the rest of his season in doubt. With HC Dennis Allen‘s job on the line and GM Mickey Loomis 0-for-7 in playoff appearances without Sean Payton (the first four misses coming during the Aaron Brooks years), it makes sense the Saints are looking into available wideouts.
Jim Harbaugh‘s new Bolts regime bailed on Williams, doing so as he was rehabbing a torn ACL. The 6-foot-4 playmaker had battled injuries in Los Angeles but was available enough to post two 1,000-yard seasons alongside Allen. The younger of Justin Herbert‘s two long-running targets, Williams also totaled 895 receiving yards in 13 games in 2022. A back injury sustained in a meaningless Week 18 game in Denver sidelined Williams for the Chargers’ wild-card game in Jacksonville, which turned into a historic collapse. He then suffered the ACL injury in Week 3 of last season.
Harbaugh’s squad looked into other veteran receivers following Allen and Williams’ exits, eventually drafting Ladd McConkey early in the second round. Herbert has gone from a high-octane passer to a carefully managed option in Greg Roman‘s run-oriented offense. A familiar face returning could jumpstart the standout quarterback, but it is unclear if the Bolts are prepared to pay the roughly $3MM remaining of Williams’ 2024 salary. The rest of Williams’ money on a one-year, $10MM Jets deal has either been paid out in salary or is tied up in void years that will create a bit of dead money if/when the wideout is traded.
Williams was listed as a non-practice participant for a personal reason Wednesday. This presumably pertains to his status on the trade block. The trade candidate did resurface at the Jets’ facility Thursday, NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo tweets, though the veteran reporter adds Williams is again not practicing. This would point to the in-limbo receiver not playing in Week 7.
Before Williams slipped on the MetLife Stadium turf, leading to a crucial Taron Johnson INT, he had caught only 10 passes for 145 yards in six Jets games. He may well be done in a Jets uniform, but the team would technically still have the option of playing him after Adams debuts (which is expected this weekend). That said, it would surprise if Williams remained a Jet for too much longer.
Lol Steelers bargain bin shopping as always.. Rooneys = Nuttings
Fans love to play Sportsball Mashup just as sportsball media do.
He allowed Khan to go after Aiyuk and actually came to an agreement; that’s the opposite of bargain bin shopping. Then they inquired on Adams, which the Jets probably overpaid a bit on so I don’t really see how Rooney is cheap. He’s trying to get someone in the building.
Aiyuk he wanted to pay after he has never been a top option on his tam. Awful call. Should’ve never traded Johnson and they wouldn’t need any body! Inquiring on a player means nothing. They can ask about Myles Garrett too, doesn’t mean they’re trying to actually acquire him. It’s actually EXACTLY what Nutting does. He once inquired on Davis Price, was never happening, but it made fans talk about it and act like they were doing something. That’s all this is. They’ll end up with another Van Jefferson, if any body at all.
name one player the Steelers let leave in their prime or traded away for salary reasons…
you’re juxtaposition is flat at best.
this is a team that needed an ILB and QB this offseason and signed the top ILB and got 2 notable QBs
you could even argue that they were so focused on landing Aiyuk that it held them back from persuing lessor options.
I don’t see how they compare to the Pirates in any single way
Lol. Mike Wallace, Le’Veon Bell, Diontae Johnson just to quickly name a few over the years. They got 2 QB’s who are notable because they stunk at their last stop. And like they say if you got 2 QBs you got none. Really notable would’ve been Cousins. A real shot at winning would’ve been Cousins. Patrick Queen has been legitimately invisible this season, I’m not going to pat them on the back because they signed a guy who stinks.
Queen = Rowdy Tellez. A signing based off what he did in the past on a better team with more help.
Wilson & Fields = Marco Gonzales & Martin Perez. Innings eaters that offer really no high ceiling. Their best offseason signing was a punter who got his season ruined game 1….
I live here. I see it day in and day out. They are literally the Pirates. This team told guys like Hines Ward (overrated) and Troy Polamalu to retire and stick a one franchise guy or go somewhere else. The history is blatant.
Wallace and Bell ended up being good passes.
let alone they gave the Wallace contract to AB ,
and offered Bell more than he dumbly ended up getting from the Jets.
I just think your argument is ridiculous.
comparing Patrick Queen who’s a top ILB in the NFL to journeyman Rowdy Tellez is laughable
the QBs are more comparable to a solid #3 SP than the two spot starters you mentioned
Hindsight was 20/20 yes, but that doesn’t steer away from the fact that they didn’t pay them during their prime. Which was the question you asked. Bell was easily the best all around back in the league. You can think it’s ridiculous but it’s valid.
The comparison was valid. That ‘top ILB in the league’ is literally one of the most invisible players on the field getting outplayed by Elandon Roberts and a rookie Payton Wilson. He’s not top anything besides bust at this moment.
like I said he ended up getting less from the Jets than the Steelers offered him.
either way, the Steelers are consistently right up against the cap and retain their stars, and the Pirates are consistently below league average payroll.
You have to have stars to keep them. Watt’s the only one. Heyward should’ve been shown the door. Highsmith needs Watt to succeed. The Pirates paid to keep their stars too – or who they think are stars – Reynolds, Hayes, Keller. The NFL has 30+ more players on their roster, of course they come closer to the cap…. Not to mention they have the 15th most cap as of right now and 9th next season. Go get a receiver who doesn’t suck already… The money is there but they rather sell the thought of a draft pick to fans. Just like the Pirates do. Sell you on prospects and draft picks for them to just suck when they get here. The last 7 first round picks by the Steelers were all busts. Move one for a competent receiver instead of playing with the bargain bin options Williams, Kirk, etc.
“Never being a top option on his team” lacks context. Most WRs wouldn’t be the top option on a squad that also comprises CMC, Kittle, and Deebo. The former have been top 3 players at their positions for years and the latter has been top 10 for years.
Johnson was out the moment he didn’t even try to go after that fumble. It was clear the dude was never going to give 100% in Pitt from that moment forward.
No matter what you think about the first two, your complaint was Rooney being as cheap as Nutting and nothing in your two comments is sufficient evidence to back that claim up.
Nothing you said changes what I said. I posted evidence. Bell, Johnson, Wallace. Lack of offensive playmakers because they refuse to give up a 2nd round pick and some money. Lame duck coach they inexplicably stand behind. One good first round draft pick in 8 years for each. They’re identical.
And this is where your arguments shifts from typical owner hatred to completely spoiled fandom.
Your Bell comment was already debunked by someone. You’re calling the Steelers cheap even though he ended up signing for LESS with another team than Pitt originally offered and performed terribly there. And Wallace got $12M a year ten years ago! This made him one of the highest paid WR and he signed the highest AAV deal of that FA period, if I’m not mistaken… to perform like a mid-level number 2 and be traded two years later. So are you advocating for making bad signings? And if Pitt hadn’t offered Bell at all and just let both walk, is that cheap or smart? Given that this is the NFL and there’s a cap, they can’t just Dodgers or Yankees their way to the playoffs every year. Please cite an example of them being cheap where it wasn’t a great decision to let a guy walk.
Finally, the last things you listed have zero to do with money/cheapness. Those are separate gripes.
Their play doesn’t matter. The Steelers let them go in their prime over money. Just like the previous guy claimed they never do. Idk how to be more blatant on that. lol
Nice time to mute an idiot..yousuckjustlikeyiurcommentsdo
That hurts me so much… fangirl
Muted
Back with Herbert would be Mikes best option though reckon the decision rests with GM Rodgers and compensation.
probably be the best WR on the Steelers
Being they missed on Davante, this would be a solid low-cost move for the Saints. With the injuries, they badly need WR help.
Ya even if this is the corpse of washed Williams, he’d still probably be their best option as a Shaheed replacement.
If the Jets haven’t given up on 2024 they should keep him. Just because they traded for Adam’s doesn’t mean they need to unload an offensive weapon in return. Can’t hurt to have another solid wideout and they can afford him
I see your point but hes been less than solid this year. His snap count and target share is going to decrease dramatically from here on out, wont make too much of a difference to keep him or not
Mike isn’t a speedy guy but if you get the ball close he’ll snatch it
This has Chargers written all over it…Herbert would love to have him back and any pass that is a “jump ball” is a win for Williams and at the prorated money left on this year the Chargers could do that even if Dean Spanos is a cheap owner.
Not a lot of positives here – as Williams is not just trying to play his way back into form after a major injury, but he was never known as the best route runner/most reliable receiver, even when at his best.
What’s his contract look like now?
Did the Bolts have to eat his
previous, large contract when they released him?