New York sent Avery Williamson and a 2022 seventh-round pick…
New York sent Avery Williamson and a 2022 seventh-round pick to Pittsburgh for a 2022 fifth-rounder. The Jets later moved that fifth-round selection again, so the return was primarily extra draft flexibility during a rebuilding season rather than a player who directly became part of the roster. Moving a veteran on an expiring deal made sense, but the eventual value was modest.
New York Jets Received
- pick 2022 fifth-round pick (No. 163; later traded)
Pittsburgh Steelers Received
- player Avery Williamson
- pick 2022 seventh-round pick (No. 225, Mark Robinson )
Trade Analysis
The Deadline Addition
On November 2, 2020, Pittsburgh acquired linebacker Avery Williamson and a 2022 seventh-round pick from the Jets for a 2022 fifth-round selection. The Steelers were unbeaten at the time and needed linebacker depth after injuries. New York was rebuilding and converted a veteran on an expiring contract into a future pick.
Williamson's Short Pittsburgh Run
Williamson joined immediately and appeared in all eight remaining regular-season games, starting four. He recorded 52 tackles and a sack for Pittsburgh and also appeared in the postseason. His tenure was brief, but it served the intended purpose: the Steelers bought experienced depth for a team trying to contend that season without surrendering a premium selection.
The Seventh-Round Value
The delayed seventh-rounder became pick No. 225 in 2022, which Pittsburgh used on linebacker Mark Robinson. Robinson played 38 games for the Steelers from 2022 through 2024, making four starts and becoming a significant special-teams participant. That downstream piece extends the value of the trade beyond Williamson's half-season. The Jets' fifth-round choice, No. 163, was later moved again rather than used directly by New York.
Why Pittsburgh Gets the Edge
The Jets' logic was sound because Williamson did not fit their timeline, and creating a fifth-round asset was useful. Pittsburgh nevertheless obtained two separate periods of roster service from its return: immediate linebacker snaps in 2020 and later depth from Robinson.
Final Verdict
Pittsburgh earns a B- for extracting useful short-term help plus a later roster contributor. New York receives a C+ for creating draft capital without a strong direct payoff. The Steelers win narrowly.
The Jets later moved that fifth-round selection again, so the return was primarily extra draft flexibility during a rebuilding season rather than a player who directly became part of the roster. Moving a veteran on an expiring deal made sense, but the eventual value was modest.