With the NFL trade deadline approaching, one player generating interest is New York Jets wide receiver Mike Williams.
Following the Jets’ trade for Davante Adams last week, reports from The Athletic indicated that at least three teams, including the Pittsburgh Steelers, had inquired about Williams’ availability. The Jets (2-5) faced the Steelers on Sunday night and lost 37-15. The Steelers are seeking additional receiving support to complement George Pickens, who had a standout performance against New York.
ESPN highlighted on Tuesday that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers might now be in urgent need of a receiver after their loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Monday night. The Bucs lost two wideouts in that game; Mike Evans exited in the first half with an injury, and his status for next week remains uncertain. Additionally, Chris Godwin suffered a significant injury late in the game, requiring a cart to leave the field, and coach Todd Bowles later indicated that Godwin likely dislocated his ankle, sidelining him for the remainder of the season.
If the Buccaneers are without both Godwin and Evans for an extended period, they may need to seek receiver help to maintain their chances of winning the NFC South. Williams could be a solution—if the Jets are open to trading him.
Last week was challenging for Williams. It began with him slipping while attempting to catch a pass from quarterback Aaron Rodgers against Buffalo, leading to an interception that sealed the game. Rodgers criticized Williams, claiming the veteran was supposed to run a “red line” route, suggesting he was out of position.
Williams then missed practice on Wednesday and Thursday for “personal reasons” but returned on Friday, clarifying that there were no hard feelings between him and Rodgers, who had reached out to discuss the situation. He played on Sunday, catching one pass for 15 yards, bringing his season total to 11 receptions for 160 yards.
Having signed a one-year deal with New York this offseason after recovering from an ACL tear, Williams has been a consistent contributor throughout his career. If traded, his cap hit would be manageable, as the Jets have already paid most of his $10 million salary upfront. For a team acquiring him, he would cost less than $800,000 against a base salary of $1.255 million.
