Behind the Steel Curtain
Will newly acquired WR Mike Williams pay off the Steelers price tag?
Ahead of Tuesday’s NFL trade deadline, the Pittsburgh Steelers acquired WR Mike Williams from the New York Jets for a 2025 fifth-round pick.
Williams has 12 catches for 166 yards this season and seemingly fell out of favor in New York after the Jets acquired Davante Adams from the Las Vegas Raiders.
Many, including myself, are questioning whether the Steelers gave up too much to acquire a 30-year-old who appears to be on his last leg. It’s a good move from the vantage point that the Steelers needed to add to the room; however, former Tennessee Titans wideout DeAndre Hopkins was also traded for a fifth-round pick to the Kansas City Chiefs, which at first glance makes this compensation seem steep.
With that in mind, I wanted to take a look at the recent history of the Steelers’ fifth-round selections.
It’s worth noting these fell under Kevin Colbert’s regime, so the relevance is tainted.
Interestingly enough, though, Pittsburgh hasn’t picked in the fifth round since 2021. So, I guess who needs one anyway?
Grade: B
Loudermilk is in his fourth year with the Steelers; and while he hasn’t been overly productive (one sack) his staying power is enough to warrant a high grade.
He’s also been a mainstay on special teams and recently blocked a field goal earlier this season against the Dallas Cowboys.
Grade: B
Gentry is another contributor who helped the Steelers win some pivotal games. He spent four seasons with the black and gold and hauled in 39 passes for 303 yards.
In the Steelers' regular-season finale in 2021, Gentry caught four passes from QB Ben Roethlisberger and helped propel the Steelers to a playoff berth in what would be Roethlisberger’s final regular-season contest.
Grades: Allen C, Samuels B+
So far, this list is comprised of names that most casual fans of the Steelers would know. That’s a very good thing when evaluating day three picks.
Allen spent five years with the Steelers and was a regular contributor on special teams. And I remain a huge fan of Samuels. When called upon, he generally delivered.
The most memorable career highlight was a start in week three of his rookie season against the New England Patriots.
Samuels had 19 carries for 142 yds and caught two passes for 30 yards. He was the main cog in a 17-10 win over the Patriots - a team the Steelers didn’t find much success against over the past decade.
He ultimately took a back seat to RB James Conner, but was a very reliable backup in his three years in black and gold.
Grade: D
Allen was rostered for two seasons but only saw a handful of snaps. Unfortunately, he was plagued by injuries. In...
