Do you ever look across to the other sideline when watching a game and think to yourself, “Dang, I really wish I had that guy on my team.”
Well, listening to Jacksonville Jaguars HC Doug Pederson speak Wednesday, you would think that he is enamored with Pittsburgh Steelers WR George Pickens. Pederson was asked if the Jaguars had interest in Pickens coming out of college, to which Pederson responded saying that they did and lauded the second-year receiver and his play thus far in his young NFL career.
“He’s a dominant player,” Pederson said to the media via video from the Jaguars’ YouTube channel. “He’s big and athletic. He runs well, he catches the ball. He can high point. I think he’s about 18.5 yards per attempt. He has three 100-yard games this year already. They do a great job of throwing the back-shoulder fade. He can run past you. He does a great job running slants. There’s not a lot that he really can’t do, and he blocks well. So, he’s playing at a high level for them, and the quarterback is very comfortable with him.”
Pederson basically described Pickens to a tee in his press conference, noting that Pickens tends to do well down the field as a vertical threat. He pointed out the patented back-shoulder throw he and Pickett have made a habit of connecting on in recent weeks, suggesting that the Jaguars are expecting to see the two try to connect on that throw here this coming Sunday.
Pickens is a physical specimen, having the size and leaping ability to go over you for the jump ball, the speed to run past you on a go route, and the wiggle and aggressiveness to create as a runner after the catch. Pickens called himself the best receiver in the world during training camp, saying that he has all the traits you look for in a WR1 when it comes to his height, weight, speed, and catching ability. Pederson sees it the same way, stating that Pickens is in the midst of a strong 2023 season as he and Pickett continue to mesh well together.
Pickett spoke about his relationship with Pickens earlier today on Schein on Sports on Mad Dog Sports Radio, saying that the two play very well together and that Pickens is too good of a player to not give those opportunities in the passing game. Pickens looks to be in the middle of a breakout season, putting up big numbers even after Diontae Johnson returned this past week against the Rams. Pickens’ development should continue to help Pickett’s maturation as well, giving the young quarterback a talented target he can count on making a big play, even when coverage is tight. The two will face another test on Sunday as Pederson works to have his team prepared for that Pickett-to-Pickens connection when the Jaguars come to town to play the Steelers at Acrisure Stadium.
