Smith, 31, has two seasons and $24.6 million in base wage left on his present contract. He is struggled a bit this 12 months, garnering 2.5 sacks and a 61.8 general PFF grade in 9 begins for the Packers. Now he’ll be a part of T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith on the sides for the Steelers. Although Nick Herbig has been injured, he is more likely to return quickly to Pittsburgh’s entrance seven, boding very badly for opposing quarterbacks going ahead.
Williams, 30, turned the odd man out in New York’s WR corps after the Jets traded for Davante Adams, whereas the Steelers have lengthy sought assist on the place, notably dropping out on makes an attempt to commerce for San Francisco 49ers wideout Brandon Aiyuk within the offseason. The 2 events obtained collectively earlier than Tuesday’s commerce deadline in a transfer that ought to profit each squads.
Launched this spring by the Los Angeles Chargers after seven seasons with the membership, Williams signed a one-year, $15 million pact with the Jets ($5 million assured). Nevertheless, Williams was coming off a torn ACL and was used sparingly to begin the 2024 marketing campaign. As soon as Adams was added to a receiver room that already included Garrett Wilson and Allen Lazard, Williams turned expendable — even with Lazard coping with an harm.
The 6-foot-4, 218-pound Williams is an enormous physique identified for making massive performs, however has recorded simply 12 catches for 166 yards in 9 video games (three begins) for the Jets with no touchdowns in his temporary keep.
In Pittsburgh, he ought to discover loads extra alternatives and provides quarterback Russell Wilson one other confirmed choice reverse WR1 George Pickens.
With the Jets clinging to playoff hopes at 3-6, this does little to decrease their underdog possibilities going ahead and offers them a return on a Williams signing that did not pan out.
The Steelers however sit atop the AFC North at 6-2 and have lastly addressed a obvious want that is been obvious because the preseason.
Rookie Roman Wilson (hamstring) is on injured reserve and has but to play a snap. Van Jefferson and Calvin Austin III have made bigger contributions in latest weeks, however Williams is an enormous improve.
For weeks, Williams has seemingly been on the block, and all through the season, the Steelers have been trying so as to add expertise at receiver. All of it got here collectively on deadline day.
