PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – They weren’t the biggest splashes at the NFL trade deadline on Tuesday, but listening to national experts, it appears the Steelers did very well for itself. So much so a veteran NFL Network reporter made a huge statement.
Following these moves and the Steelers 6-2 start with the way Russell Wilson has juiced the offense, Mike Garafolo said the Steelers are the biggest threat now to the Kansas City Chiefs as the best team in the AFC.
He wasn’t the only one to crow about the Steelers moves of adding veteran receiver Mike Williams and veteran pass-rusher Preston Smith. So did a 10-year NFL front office executive and current ESPN NFL analyst Louis Riddick.
“The Steelers have kind of like real under the radar, as we are talking about the quarterback position, the defense is balling, they are making some moves,” Riddick said on NFL Live on Tuesday. “Mike (Tomlin) and Omar Khan are putting some things together.”
What you hear from a number of experts is not necessarily the magnitude of the players or that either are at their peak, but it’s the fit. Williams skillsets add a missing dynamic to what the Steelers WR room has and Smith is a huge add to an outside linebacker group that has dealt with numerous injuries.
“You watch Russell Wilson over the last couple of games, he’s done a really nice job of throwing it up to George Pickens, letting his receiver go get it and make a play,” said NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. “That’s exactly what you need to do to Mike Williams. He thrived in Los Angeles on just exactly that. This is a really, really nice fit for the Pittsburgh Steelers.”
“I think it’s the perfect prescription for the perfect time for this Pittsburgh Steelers offense,” said ESPN analyst and former NFL receiver Andrew Hawkins. “George Pickens is an incredible talent, he still has development to be a solidified number one both on the field and off. When you put Mike Williams into the mix and they are a receiving corps by committee.”
“You have to look at it in the small sample size we seen Russell Wilson in the last two games. They are able to get production out of Calvin Austin. They are able to get some out of the slot with Van Jefferson. George Pickens can do it all over the field, but especially deep.”
“There are going to be some defenses that are going to shade to him over the top to make sure they limit those big plays. Mike Williams is incredible there. He’s incredible at contested catches, 50-50 balls and down the field. We all have seen that Russell Wilson has no problem pushing the ball down the field which is why the offense has been humming.”
“This is his new DK Metcalf,” said ESPN analyst Dan Orlavsky on NFL Live, adding this move proves the Steelers are committed to Wilson at quarterback. “I’m not saying they are the same players. Him and DK, the connection that they had with some moon balls downfield, some of the vertical routes. That’s kind of what that Mike Williams role is going to step into.”
“He’s perfect in this room,” said Riddick, a former Pitt Panther. “Mike, George right in the middle, Calvin Austin doing his work underneath, but still can get down the field. It’s perfect. You got a guy for everyone. For every kind of situation.”
Riddick said it gives Wilson a little bit of everything in his offense. Then you combine that with Najee Harris rushing for 100 yards each of the last three games and an offensive line likely getting center Zach Frazier back.
Time will tell what this will mean, but national experts are bullish on the move the Steelers made on Tuesday.