The one major issue with the NY Jets' excellent Mike Williams trade

The NY Jets got in on the NFL trade deadline festivities on Tuesday, sending veteran wide receiver Mike Williams to the Pittsburgh Steelers in what ultimately looks to be an excellent value trade for the organization.

Williams had hauled in just 12 catches for 166 yards in nine games and is set to be a free agent in the offseason. A fifth-round pick return is absurdly good value given his current situation.

Williams became expendable following the addition of Davante Adams last month. The veteran wideout found himself the subject of various trade rumors with both sides seemingly motivated to move on.

His lack of chemistry with Aaron Rodgers combined with his unclear role in the Jets' offense made this a no-brainer trade for the team. However, there is one notable problem with the move.

NY Jets are dangerously thin at WR following Mike Williams trade

The Williams trade leaves the Jets dangerously thin at wide receiver behind their star-studded duo of Davante Adams and Garrett Wilson. With Allen Lazard temporarily sidelined, the Jets have a serious depth issue in their receiver room.

This is why there was a prevailing belief that the Jets would ultimately retain Williams following Lazard's injury. Lazard was placed on injured reserve last week and currently has no timetable for a return from a chest injury the Jets have described as "strange."

The Williams trade leaves the likes of Xavier Gipson, Irvin Charles, and rookie third-round pick Malachi Corley as the only remaining healthy wide receivers on the Jets' roster behind Adams and Williams. Those three players have a combined five catches in 2024.

While Jets fans would love if it this meant more snaps for Corley, that likely isn't going to be the case. The Jets will probably lean on Adams and Wilson as well as their running backs and tight ends in the passing game until Lazard returns.

The issue arises if one of Adams or Wilson is forced to miss time due to injury. The Williams trade leaves the Jets extremely thin at the position, a significant issue for a team still trying to make a late-season playoff push.

That doesn't necessarily mean it was the wrong move. The Jets received well above market value for a player with 12 catches in nine games who is set to be a free agent at the end of the season. This was a no-brainer decision for Joe Douglas (or whoever is currently running the show at Florham Park).

But there are downsides to every trade. The downsides of this move are that it makes the Jets worse in the short term and eliminates their wide receiver depth. That's a trade-off the Jets should be willing to take, however.

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