Did the Steelers pay too much for Mike Williams? A look at their recent 5th-round draft picks

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?

2021: Isaiahh Loudermilk, DL, Pick 156

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.

2019: Zach Gentry, TE, Pick 141

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.

2018: Marcus Allen, S, Pick 148 and Jaylen Samuels, RB, Pick 165

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.

2017: Brian Allen, DB, Pick 173

Grade: D

Allen was rostered for two seasons but only saw a handful of snaps. Unfortunately, he was plagued by injuries. In 2019, he was waived after suffering an ankle injury in training camp.

2015: Jesse James, TE, Pick 160

Grade: A

It’s not an exaggeration to say that James will go down as one of the best fifth-round picks in team history.

The heir apparent to Heath Miller caught at least 30 passes in three consecutive seasons from 2016-18 and scored eight TDs over that span.

Obviously, he wasn’t able to fill the shoes of Miller, but he was arguably a league-average tight end for a few seasons.

And yes… he did catch it.

The next few years included names like Shaquille Richardson (2014), Wesley Johnson (2014), and Terry Hawthorne (2013.) Let’s just say there wasn’t much to write about them.

For the most part, this list proves that fifth-round picks aren’t exactly throw-away picks. Pittsburgh has found excellent depth pieces who have stuck out the duration of their rookie contracts in the Steel City.

Obviously, if Williams performs well and the Steelers win in the playoffs, this is all moot.

But my question remains. At first glance, is this data enough to convince you that the compensation was fair?

Let us know in the comments section!