BALTIMORE -- According to multiple reports, the Steelers acquired inside linebacker Avery Williamson in a trade from the Jets following their 28-24 win Sunday over the Ravens.
Per ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Steelers will give up a fifth-round draft pick in 2022 and get Williamson and the Jets' seventh-round pick in 2022.
The Steelers land a new linebacker, source confirms. https://t.co/tQIppZxVpC
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 2, 2020
The move comes just two days before the NFL trade deadline of Tuesday. Williamson will need to go through five days of COVID-19 testing before he can join the Steelers, meaning he likely will not be available to play when the Steelers (7-0) travel to Dallas to face the Cowboys next Sunday.
The trade comes after backup Robert Spillane had a team-high 11 tackles and returned an interception for a touchdown while also recovering a fumble in the win over the Ravens.
Spillane, a third-year pro from Western Michigan, had been forced into action when the Steelers lost starting inside linebacker Devin Bush to a torn ACL in a win over the Browns Oct. 18.
A seven-year pro, Williamson joined the Jets in 2018 after four seasons with the Titans. He signed a three-year, $22.5 million contract with the Jets, but is earning a base salary of just $2.75 million this year. He will be a free agent at the end of the season. Williamson had restructured his deal with the Jets before this season to take a slight pay cut.
That means the Steelers will be on the hook for about $1.45 million for renting Williamson for the remainder of the season.
Williamson has 50 tackles and one interception for the Jets this season. He has 546 tackles and 14.5 sacks along with four interceptions in 85 career games.
