PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – If there is one player on the Steelers roster who could potentially impact a game like George Pickens, it’s the trade deadline addition. GM Omar Khan sent a fifth-round pick to the Jets on the chance he could find the explosive Mike Williams. What the 30-year-old receiver has done in the past and could he do it again?
The 2017 first-round pick splashed his second year in the NFL. He had only 43 catches, but 10 were for touchdowns and averaged 15.4 yards-per-catch. The breakout year was 2019 with the Chargers, the 6’4” Williams started 15 games and finished with 49 catches for 1,001 yards. A 20.4 yard-per-reception average that led the NFL.
Two years later a career high with 76 receptions and 1,146 yards to go with nine touchdowns. In that 2021 season he had four 100-yard games, 122 yards and a pair of touchdowns in a win over the Chiefs, including the game-winner with 32 seconds left.
Even in his last two seasons with the Chargers, marred by injuries, he produced. He had 100-yard performances for five of his last 16 games-including against playoff teams-Kansas City, Houston and Miami.
He signed a one-year deal with the Jets for $10 million while still recovering from ACL surgery in March. He was unable to participate on-field in the Jets OTAs or mini-camp and was limited in training camp. He said he was never able to build chemistry with Aaron Rodgers and the QB had brought in some of his former, more familiar receivers.
It became a mess for Williams in New York, but the Jets as a whole are a mess.
We’ve only seen limited amounts of Williams playing for the Steelers so far. He’s played in every one of the five games, but no more than 32% of the snaps.
“Big Mike, obviously we traded for him in a big way,” said Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson. “Obviously his first catch as a Pittsburgh Steeler was a touchdown against the Commanders to win the game for us. In a way he helped seal the game this week too with some big catches on third down.”
George Pickens has 16 receptions for 20 yards or more, that’s second in the AFC. In his last full season, Williams had 17 catches of 20 yards or more in 2021. He’s the only player with remotely the skillset of Pickens.
“I’m a playmaker, I want to make plays. I want to get the opps. Adding me just adds a threat, another guy who can go out there and make plays.”
That’s what Williams said on his first day as a Steeler. If he can put some of those words into actions, he’s the guy that can help lesson the impact of missing Pickens.