Several teams were active on NFL trade deadline day, including the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The Steelers were particularly busy, first sending a 2025 fifth-round pick to the New York Jets to land wide receiver Mike Williams, Pittsburgh then shipped a 2025 seventh-round selection to the Green Bay Packers in exchange for veteran pass rusher Preston Smith. By adding two players, the Steelers had to release one from the active roster in a corresponding move.
That unlucky player is tight end Rodney Williams, who the Steelers confirmed was cut in a tweet moments ago.
“We have acquired LB Preston Smith from the Green Bay Packers for a 2025 seventh-round pick, pending a physical. We also released TE Rodney Williams from the active roster and waived both WR Andy Isabella and LB Craig Young from the practice squad,” the Steelers said.
With Pat Freiermuth entrenched as the team’s No. 1 tight end and 2023 third-rounder Darnell Washington, 2022 sixth-rounder Connor Heyward and veteran free agent MyCole Pruitt providing quality depth, Williams was expendable on Pittsburgh’s roster.
“We work the trade market not only at that position but all positions,” Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said earlier today about adding a wide receiver. “I think every team does, particularly those of us that are trying to lean in as the road gets narrow, and so I acknowledge that we’re active participants in trade discussions, but to be quite honest with you, we always are, and so I wouldn’t read too much into that behavior. I just think that’s normal prudent business for us. If you’re trying to be a developing world championship outfit.”
At 6-2, the Steelers are currently in first place in the AFC North, one-half game ahead of the Baltimore Ravens. Pittsburgh still has all six of its divisional games remaining, as well as out-of-division matchups with the Eagles, Commanders and Chiefs.
