After entering the league together as the Pittsburgh Steelers’ first- and second-round draft picks in the 2022 NFL Draft, quarterback Kenny Pickett and wide receiver George Pickens already had a bit of built-in chemistry.
That carried over into the two hitting the field together, which has led to Pickett and Pickens becoming quite the connection early on in their tenures for the Steelers.
That connection continued Sunday in Los Angeles. Pickens hauled in five passes for 107 yards, including some big catches in the fourth quarter as the Steelers mounted their comeback in the 24-17 win, marking the second straight game Pickens has eclipsed 100 receiving yards.Â
For Pickett, who appeared on the “Schein on Sports on Mad Dog Sports Radio” show Wednesday morning, that relationship with Pickens is a strong one, which has them on the same page and communicating well rather consistently.
“I think we meshed really well together personally. Just the way we’re very honest with each other, what we see on the field and call things like it is, and we’re in those moments, we see it. We’re on the same page. The communication off the field is awesome on the sideline and he tells me what he sees, I tell him, and then we go out there and we execute, Pickett said to Schein, according to audio via the Schein on Sports show on Mad Dog Sports Radio. “I always want to give him opportunities. I’ve been preaching that since I got here. He is a guy that if he’s one-on-one, he’s gotta get the football.
“He’s too good of a player not to give those opportunities to. So, just wanna continue doing that, continue to give him and Diontae [Johnson] as many opportunities as we can to help us win games. And if we do that, I think we’ll be successful.”
When the Steelers made the two draft picks, they ushered in a new era offensively and undoubtedly wanted to help formulate a bond that would be the key to the Steelers’ passing attack for years to come. So far, that investment had paid off. The two have been quite the pairing in the NFL.
Last season, Pickett to Pickens had the highest QBR in the NFL. Pickett had a 97.6 QBR when targeting Pickens last season, the best QBR by any quarterback targeting any receiver in 2022 with a minimum of 50 attempts.
So far this season, Pickens has been targeted 45 times by Pickett and has hauled in 27 passes for 500 yards and two touchdowns. Rather impressive numbers overall. When he’s been targeted this season, Pickens has a 97.6 QBR — again. Good things happen when the ball is thrown his way.Â
That chemistry on and off the field is paying dividends for the off, leading to some explosive plays this season, giving the Steelers offense a real spark. Assuming good health moving forward, that connection should only get better for the Black and Gold.
