NFL Rumors: Mike Williams traded from Jets to Steelers after Davante Adams deal | News, results, highlights, statistics and rumors

Mike Williams' stint with the New York Jets has come to an end after seven months.

According to Jordan Schultz of Fox Sports, the Jets traded the veteran wide receiver to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport added that the Steelers will send the Jets a 2025 fifth-round draft pick.

Williams' time in New York appeared to be coming to an end on October 15th when the Jets acquired Davante Adams from the Las Vegas Raiders for a conditional 2025 third-round draft pick.

A simple elimination process determined that Williams would be the underdog. Adams would immediately step in as the starter alongside Garrett Wilson. Allen Lazard was Aaron Rodgers' favorite target in the red zone early in the season with five touchdown catches, but he is currently on injured reserve due to a pectoral injury he suffered in Week 7 against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio reported on the same day of the Adams trade that the Jets would offer Williams to any interested teams.

There were some who thought Lazard's injury would make Williams less likely to be traded, but New York found an offer he liked. It doesn't hurt that the team led by Adams and Wilson still has plenty of pass-catching talent.

Williams signed a one-year contract with the Jets in March after being released by the Los Angeles Chargers. With 12 receptions for 166 yards and no touchdowns in nine games (three starts), he struggled to make much of an impact in his new surroundings.

Considering how specific Rodgers is about what he expects from his receivers, it's no surprise that Williams has had difficulty building a relationship with the veteran quarterback in such a short amount of time.

At the latest, Williams is going into a situation in which the Steelers can use his skills better. He is best used as a wideout who can win at the catch point, as he is 6'1″ and can overwhelm opposing cornerbacks.

Those are limited but valuable skills, especially for a quarterback who isn't afraid to throw the ball around even in tight coverage because Williams is capable of making difficult plays.

Although Williams is 30 years old and coming off a torn ACL that limited him to three games in 2023, he is still at a point in his career where he should be able to be a productive player. The Steelers are betting that he will be the difference-maker for their offense for the rest of this season in a low-risk but high-reward trade.

The Steelers have been trying for months to find another quality receiver to play opposite George Pickens. Their offseason pursuit of Brandon Aiyuk fell through when he rejected an agreed-upon trade between the Steelers and San Francisco 49ers.

It's been clear since the start of the season why the Steelers were willing to make such an aggressive move. Pickens is the only pass catcher on the roster with more than 300 receiving yards in eight games.

Part of that is due to the Steelers taking a run-first approach with offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, but they also use Calvin Austin and Van Jefferson as their primary receivers after Pickens.

The Steelers are chasing the Baltimore Ravens in their own division, along with other AFC playoff contenders like the Kansas City Chiefs, Houston Texans and Buffalo Bills. They needed to become even more explosive on offense before the trade deadline.

Williams is still working on getting back up to game speed after missing most of last season, but his ceiling is significantly higher than Austin or Jefferson. His outstanding performance at the catch point should also serve him well when playing with Russell Wilson or Justin Fields.

Wilson, in particular, appears to be a quarterback who can take advantage of Williams' strong hands since he is so accurate on long shots down the field.