Mike Tomlin acknowledged before Tuesday’s 4 p.m. deadline that the Pittsburgh Steelers were active in trade discussions, warning that wide receiver wasn’t the only position they were interested in addressing.

The Steelers, Tomlin said, were looking at all positions.

“I just think that’s normal, prudent business for us,” Tomlin said, “if you’re trying to be a developing world championship outfit.”

The AFC North-leading Steelers (6-2) attempted to take a step in that direction by acquiring a big downfield target in Mike Williams from the New York Jets for a 2025 fifth-round draft pick and an edge rusher in Preston Smith from the Green Bay Packers for a 2025 seventh-round pick.

The Steelers have been in the market for a wide receiver since trading Diontae Johnson to Carolina in March for cornerback Donte Jackson. The 6-foot-4, 218-pound Williams posted a pair of 1,000-yard seasons in 2019 and ’21, has 13 100-yard games in his eight-year NFL career and his average of 15.6 yards per catch ranks sixth since he entered the league as the No. 7 overall pick of the 2017 NFL Draft out of Clemson.

Williams, 30, recorded 309 catches for 4,806 yards and 31 touchdowns over seven seasons with the Chargers before signing a one-year, $10 million deal with the Jets. He showed limited production in nine games (three starts), with 12 receptions for 166 yards without a touchdown. That included one catch (on two targets) for 15 yards in a 37-15 loss to the Steelers on Oct. 20. Williams’ role was further reduced when the Jets acquired Davante Adams in a trade with the Las Vegas Raiders.

The Steelers can play Williams opposite George Pickens to give quarterback Russell Wilson a pair of tall targets with the ability to stretch the field, adding much-needed depth to a receiver corps that includes Van Jefferson, Calvin Austin III and Scotty Miller.

“When called upon, they’re capable of delivering,” Tomlin said Tuesday during his weekly news conference at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex on the South Side. “And I just think with each passing week, like the sample size component discussion we’re having over here, there’ll be more opportunities to display that, particularly as people work schematically to minimize George. It creates a one-on-one opportunity for others.

“Sometimes people have dual agendas. They want to minimize George and (tight end) Pat (Freiermuth), and that further creates opportunity for others. I just feel like we have a group that’s hard-working and capable and can’t wait to show the football world those capabilities. And every time we step into a stadium, they get an opportunity to do so. And you’ve seen some examples of it already.”

Smith’s addition gives the Steelers an accomplished pass rusher to provide much-needed depth behind T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith. The 6-5, 265-pound Smith is the NFL’s only active player with 30 or more tackles and four or more sacks in each of the last nine seasons. With 68 1/2 career sacks, five interceptions and 10 forced fumbles in 10 seasons, Smith joins Steelers All-Pro Watt as the only players with 65 or more sacks, five or more interceptions and five or more forced fumbles from 2015-23.

Depth has been an issue at outside linebacker since Markus Golden retired during training camp and DeMarvin Leal was lost to a season-ending neck injury. That forced Watt to play in 91.6% of snaps while injuries have limited Highsmith (groin) to 46.1% and Nick Herbig (hamstring) to 28.6%.

Smith has proven durable, as he has made 138 career starts with Washington and Green Bay, including every game in eight of his 10 seasons. He started all nine games for the Packers this year, recording 2 1/2 sacks, four quarterback hits and 19 tackles (six solo), including two tackles for losses. Smith has had at least eight sacks in each of his past three seasons and six times in his career, and he had 20 or more quarterback hits each of the past two seasons.

To make room, the Steelers released tight end Rodney Williams from the active roster and wide receiver Andy Isabella and linebacker Craig Young from the practice squad.

The Steelers’ upcoming opponents, including the other three AFC North teams, also were active at the trade deadline.

They play Sunday at the Washington Commanders, who acquired four-time Pro Bowl cornerback Marshon Lattimore from the New Orleans Saints on Tuesday.

Their first divisional opponent, the Baltimore Ravens, traded for Diontae Johnson last week and added two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Tre’Davious White in a deal with the Los Angeles Rams.

The Cincinnati Bengals picked up running back Khalil Herbert from Chicago, and the Cleveland Browns sent defensive lineman Za’Darius Smith to the Detroit Lions for two draft picks.

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