APRIL 25: As the team did not draft a quarterback at No. 21 overall, it enters Day 2 with a glaring need and no second-round pick. As the Steelers attempt to navigate this issue, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini confirms the team is open to trading Pickens. Calls continue to come in for the talented wideout, whose contract-year salary is just $3.66MM.
APRIL 23: The Steelers have an established history of centering their wide receiver groups around one notable payment, while making other pass catchers one-contract players. Hines Ward and Antonio Brown served as cornerstones, and the team surrounded Diontae Johnson‘s extension with rookie-contract cogs.
D.K. Metcalf now serves as the Steelers’ receiving anchor, having secured a big-ticket extension upon arrival via trade. This leaves George Pickens with an uncertain Pittsburgh future. It would appear the talented wideout will be auditioning for his next contract in 2025, but the Steelers might be OK moving on before that point. They are making calls and taking them on Pickens, Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz reports.
Our Adam La Rose profiled Pickens as a trade candidate before the Metcalf acquisition, Pickens has produced in stretches. Not unlike Johnson, maturity issues have impacted his three-year run in Pennsylvania. Teams still stand to be interested in the team’s former No. 1 receiver, and Schultz adds the Packers are one of them. Calling the Steelers “more serious” than people know about moving Pickens now, an AFC GM informed Schultz Green Bay is among the teams involved in this developing trade sweepstakes.
Green Bay has four notable rookie-contract receivers on its payroll, but Romeo Doubs is now in a contract year. So is Christian Watson, whose walk year will not begin until maybe midseason due to the ACL tear he sustained in Week 18. Two years remain on Jayden Reed and Dontayvion Wicks‘ rookie deals, but calls for the team to acquire a higher-ceiling receiver have come out; Josh Jacobs has been one of those who mentioned this. Famously not choosing a first-round receiver since Javon Walker in 2002, the Packers have resisted such moves. They have found tremendous second-round value, via Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb and Davante Adams. Reed is carrying that baton now.
Also a former second-round pick, Pickens came into the NFL with maturity concerns. But he has also displayed a penchant for acrobatic catches. Despite working with Kenny Pickett and Mason Rudolph in 2023, Pickens led the NFL with 18.1 yards per reception. He followed that 1,140-yard season 900 last year, though he missed three games due to injury. The Georgia product has otherwise shown perfect attendance during his NFL career.
The Steelers have gotten ahead of contract-year WR matters by trading the likes of Johnson, Chase Claypool, Santonio Holmes, Martavis Bryant. Conversely, they let Mike Wallace and Emmanuel Sanders walk in free agency. Pickens, 24, could be valuable on a fourth rookie-deal season for Pittsburgh — especially if Aaron Rodgers or a first-round QB enters the picture — but he also could fetch a premium draft pick, being 3-for-3 in 800-yard seasons.
The Steelers have regularly addressed their receiving corps on Day 2 of a draft, doing so most recently with Roman Wilson last year. The team did not see much from Wilson during an injury-plagued rookie year, and it surrendered a second-round pick in the Metcalf deal. These factors offer potential complications in a Pickens swap, but it is fairly clear the team is gauging the market — likely as a way to see if a Day 2 pick can be recouped — ahead of the draft.
Makes sense. Man if I’m the cardinals or cowboys and you want to compete in a steadily increasingly competitive NFC, I’m making offers for Pickens. He’d be a solid number 2 behind Lamb
I totally agree being a Cowboys fan…
Go back and get Pitts 21st and Pickens for ur 12th pick…
Pitt goes up and gets their player at 12(TMac or whomever) and Cowboys get their WR2…a young stud imo…
Plus they draft their RB at 21(Henderson or Hampton) whoever they like better…a 2 for 1 for Dallas…
Dallas would have to pay Pickens of course but they have plenty of Cap Space and will accommodate another 10mill once Parson signs….
I know it’s a lot of flying parts here but it’s definitely doable if both teams are serious about improving their rosters…
Win-Win IMO!!!
Not bad imo. With that 21st you draft Hampton, and then you got Pickens more weapons for Dak
Steelers could go for Sheduer if he’s still there or T-McMillan!
The biggest issue I see is your trade drops Dallas behind Denver, who is definitely taking a RB and has been heavily connected to Hampton; meaning you’d need to feel Henderson is your guy. I think the trade itself works though.
Is Henderson a first rounder though? Hmmmmm *thinking face emoji
If Hampton goes to Denver and Henderson is not Dallas guy…then a Corner would definitely be their pick(Amos-Revel)…they could go after a RB in the 2nd or 3rd(Judkin-Johnson or my fav RJ Harvey)…
I’d be more OL with the first if they did the Pickens trade, but could see them going defense with their 2nd (if they don’t get Pickens, then they would need a WR with their 1 or 2 imo). Back to if they get Pickens, I prefer edge or DL since they have Bland & Diggs already. I liked Carson last year too, and would hope he takes a step forward this coming year, and they also traded for a change of scenery project Elam. However, I wouldn’t mind them adding another in Amos, Morrison, or Revel like you mentioned instead. Harvey in the 3rd would be a bit high for me particularly, unless it is a late 3rd. I like him along with a lot of the RBs they could get after the half way point in the draft like: Brooks, Giddens, Harvey, Hunter, Martinez, Marks, or Sanders.
I mean it looks good for a win now move for this year, but I don’t see DAL having cap space to sign him.
They have to resign Tyler Smith who is their best OL (that’s $20M/year at least). IMO they have to resign Parsons who essentially IS their defense (that’s probably $45M/year now). The pressure he puts on the opposing team is the only reason Bland & Diggs get so many INTs because they’re jumping routes knowing that the QB isn’t going to have time to wait for his WR to make a double move. Otherwise when Parsons has been out, or like triple teamed both CBs aren’t great when they actually have to cover for 4 seconds and tend to give up big plays.
So I can’t see them bringing in and being able to pay Pickens $25M/year (or more). That is what other top WR2s like Higgins, Waddle, & DeVonta Smith are making.
Again, if it is only for a win now move then sure go make that trade. However, I would suggest that PIT adds a 3rd too. I say that because I wouldn’t give a 2nd rounder for him (which is what that comes out to looking at the draft value chart) since that could’ve gotten them DK . They then pick best OL available (Booker or Jackson) to try to fill the hole left by Martin. Some kind of defense with their 2nd (edge or DL). Then get a RB in the third since they’re win now this year. One of Sampson, Tuten, Johnson, or Skattebo should be there at 76. Then BPA (best player available) starting with their other 3rd from PIT in my proposal and the rest of the way.
Good, fair point. Makes sense
I love Pickens’ catching ability, but the immaturity, yeah, trade him. I’m curious how a Packers trade would play out: swapping 21 for 23? Getting their 2nd too?
Would love their number 2 in your scenario.
Shame about Pickens. So much ability but incredible immaturity and selfishness
Jeez, in a perfect world I’d love to see he and DK in the same offense
Forgot to say, I think Dallas is a more likely spot
Dallas is having enough problems signing they players already on their roster.
Jerry has been promising huge deals, including trades. Maybe Dak is coming to Pittsburgh
( I’m joking)
Well, yeah, keeping him wouldn’t be that bad. Metcalf and Pickens together would be the best on field receiving corps that Pittsburgh has had in a while. They’ll definitely lose some on the field, but in this case, you can make an easy argument that avoiding the contract dilemma with this player could be worth the picks.
As a GB fan, I’d happily trade Alexander for Pickens straight up.
With poor WR class you’d think this would work in the Steelers favor when it comes to their return in a trade
Aren’t they defeating their purpose of a thin wr group by trading Pickens? Seems best to keep him to see how he works out with Metcalf. I’d rather them trade watt. He’s 31 and to give him 30 to 40 million a year is just going to be a backbreaking signing. He’s on the downside. They can get more for watt than fir Pickens in a trade. Typical steelers move
Watt is, literally, the only reason they win games.
Check their record with him vs. without him.
If you trade him, you trade everyone, too and go full teardown.
Well here’s the thing…sure when he’s not hurt the steelers win more…but he’s been in 6 straight playoff losses. And the last one with Baltimore, the steelers gave up 299 rushing yards. So like tomlin never having a losing season..they both choke in the playoffs. And so you are happy with these scenarios.
Don’t get me wrong I love watt’s tenacity. But players get old. And to pay him 30 to 40 million a year is not good business sense for a 31 year old. Who is often injured and starting to slow down.
And the steelers defense is the most overpriced and overrated in the league.
And the blame is tomlins. If he would let the DC coach..I think the defense would be better
Bwa bwa
If teams were willing to pay for a sack guy in his 30s looking for a contract then I’m sure Hendrickson would have been dealt.
I don’t think they’d get as much for watt as you might think
I’m sure there’s a scenario where keeping Pickens to see what happens with TBD QB and Metcalf is great. But if the team is bad, or the team is good but he isn’t getting the ball enough, or injuries occur, or mercury is in retrograde, it feels like a significantly greater likelihood that he would become a liability on and off the field. Even if he has a good season, I don’t think it would increase his trade value much compared to how much it seems like it could nosedive.
I think you make a good point, and if Pickens weren’t a question mark long term, this would be an easy request to rebuff. The thing that makes me think that it could be good as well as risky is what we would expect to see from a long term Pickens extension. Would he mature? Would he produce? Would he fall back into bouts of immaturity if he doesn’t get favorable outcomes?
Those questions are what make the trade worth considering. If they weren’t, then you’d just consider the on field implications, which would be, as you said, a thin receiving corps.
Keeping Pickens until he walks as a UFA (that they would never even consider resigning) would be malfeasance on the Steelers’ part.
Which is why, after this offseason, I assumed they would.
Trading him to get his replacement and maybe another pick would be the best move.
True, but they aren’t going to get a lot in a trade this year and will still have to use a draft pick to replace his production. The free agents available right now won’t fill that gap.
Going to be an Aj Brown like trade. Kids gonna be a star if he ever grows up
Exactly.
Teams should offer the Steelers a second and a third for this future star once he grows up.
Checking with teams on Pickens value makes a lot of sense. His known immaturity issues since HS is known league wide, so I think that will really depress his value, but it doesn’t hurt to make the phone calls, since it only takes one team to be willing to overlook those issues and just see his talent level. If he leaves as a UFA, somebody will give him a big enough contract where Pittsburgh should get a 3rd rd compensation pick, so I wouldn’t trade him for anything less than a 3rd rd pick before this draft. If they don’t get at least that, they are better off just hoping he plays his butt off in this contract season, taking the production, and getting the 3rd rd compensation pick in the next draft.
Stay away DAL. You have enough guys you need to pay, no sense in adding another who will want to get paid next year. Also, I am not sure how he will handle being the 2nd option, maybe 3rd after TE. Especially if PIT is looking for a 2nd, since I assume they could get close to a 3rd comp pick for letting him walk next year. They can keep the 2nd and draft someone like Jayden Higgins. Honestly, I think I’d still pass even if it was going to cost a 3rd, simply because of what I mentioned earlier about having to pay other guys: Tyler Smith, Parsons, and possibly Bland & Ferguson come to mind.
I like Ferguson but I wouldn’t be upset if they traded him to LAR, LAC, etc. and brought in a cheap vet (Everett or Hurst are still available) to go with Schoonmaker. Luke looked decent enough when he filled in for Ferguson and that was with Rush throwing him the ball. Again because of the cap issues they will soon be facing, they should try to get something for him while they can. Maybe a 3rd for him, even if it means adding a 6th or late 5th to do so?
If they can recoup the 2nd round pick lost in the Metcalf trade then they should do it. Draft a DL in the first then either a qb or rb in the 2nd round. They can always sign a vet free agent WR.
This is easy…swap firsts and trade Pickens for Alexander. Both teams get value and get rid of their problem children.
I never thought of that, but it is intriguing.
Alexander has a bad back and is a head case too. Their defense is already overpaid with underperforming pieces they need to shed like Fitzpatrick. Plus, they’ll need to pay Porter next year.
I didn’t know Alexander had a bad back. Porter needs to play infinitely better to get a contract extension. If he plays like last year, he should be more worried about staying in the league.
I’d’ attribute that more to injuries. He started off the year strong, and they seem to be happy with him. Alexander is damaged goods though.
He did lead the league with 15 pass interference calls.
Said this when the Metcalf trade was made, no chance Pickens is on their opening day roster. He’s another Claypool who will be out the league in a few years because he’s a head case. For those blaming the Steelers, this goes back to his Georgia days and even before that.
Bwa bwa
No chance Green Bay trades for him. Gutey has plans for that third round pick already. He desperately wants to draft that long snapper he has had his eye on for the last four years.
Million dollar body ten cent brain
Packers had their chance to draft him, when with injury prone instead
You don’t put a Picasso in the closet and you don’t trade a George Pickens. The end.
The Packers MUST make this deal. They have missed on receivers in the market and draft as far as impact receivers go since they traded Adams.
Reed is good, but he is a slot receiver only and is limited in that role.
Give MF the chance to coach a guy who is a harder guy to coach and give Love a proven 1000 yard receiver.
I want to know who sees him as a reliable #1 receiver though? Christian Watson already does a lot of the same things he does of blowing the top off of a defense although less consistently because of injuries. Like Pickens is never going to be a high volume, reliable target, and he’s obviously a ticking time bomb as far as a locker room goes. He’s also never played in an offense like the LeFleur/McVay system.
Tomlin permits that behavior.
Pickens isn’t a top 10 receiver but he absolutely is 11-32. Some teams have two guys who can be #1s and some don’t have any.
Pickens gets the Packers closer than Watson who is never on the field and when he is I don’t see the type of skill Pickens has.
Pickens has also done well with lesser QBs and I think hasn’t come close to his true potential yet.
Unless you think the Steelers are going to win the Super Bowl this year or that George Pickens will (in the span of a year) go from unreliable headcase to such a polished pro that the Steelers are going to give him an 8 figure extension, then they should trade him.
BUT, they don’t have to move him now…he could likely fetch more at the trade deadline…so they have to get at least a second for him now.
Trade him for the highest pick, consider Milroe if he’s still there but otherwise just draft the best WR and have him for 4-5 years on a rookie deal instead of one year of Pickens (who might pout in Metcalf’s shadow).
If they’re serious about grabbing a QB in round 2, he’s the obvious trade chip. Is he worth a number 2? Who knows?
Jeez, what a horrible off season this has been. And keeps getting worss
Just heard on AZ sports radio, they were discussing Pickens and how he would fit in, but they also said there is no way they would give a second for Pickens straight up. It would cost Pittsburgh Pickens and at least a 4th also to get the Cardinals to agree to a trade for their second.
That’s what I’m thinking. Maybe if Pickens was a prolific receiver, great teammate and relative choirboy. But he sure isn’t