Will George Pickens play his last game with the Steelers against the Ravens?
The bulk of the talk about the Steelers in the media, whether about George Pickens or not, shares one thing in common. Basically, everybody thinks they’re going to lose, so they’re looking ahead to the offseason. And one of the biggest questions they’ll face this offseason concerns their supposed No. 1 receiver.
That would be George Pickens, of course, who is wrapping up his third season with the Steelers. As a former second-round pick, that means he is now due for a contract extension, at least historically. But some wonder if the Steelers even want him back, and if so at what price. Likewise, some wonder if Pickens still wants to be here or is becoming a hostage.
On Saturday, the Steelers play the Ravens in Baltimore in the Wild Card Round—is this Pickens’ final game here? Obviously, they have him under contract through 2025, but they also have a history of trading wide receivers they don’t plan to sign long-term. They did it with Santonio Holmes, then with Martavis Bryant, and more recently with Chase Claypool. Though they did sign Diontae Johnson to a short extension, they also traded him when it was time.
Mike Tomlin’s philosophy is one of tolerance for those who are useful. Once you become more trouble than you’re worth, there is a problem. And we know George Pickens has caused a number of headaches, leading to speculation about the Steelers trading him.
So the question is, how much is he worth? In the Steelers’ last game, he dropped half of his targets, catching only one for zero yards. While he is impressive, dynamic, and talented, he still has all of 12 career touchdowns. For a three-year starter who believes he is the best wide receiver in the world, that is embarrassing.
Only two wide receivers in 2024 caught as many passes as Pickens while catching fewer touchdowns. He had just three for the Steelers, the lowest in his career, and that can’t be explained away just by the games he missed. He still saw over 100 targets, but he didn’t make enough plays.
The Steelers’ 2024 season is underway, following another disappointing year ending in a first-round playoff loss. They have had a long offseason since the Buffalo Bills stamped them out of their misery back in January. There are positive signs, but things could jump off the rails any moment.
The biggest question hanging over the team is the quarterback question. Is Russell Wilson earning a lucrative new deal next year, and is Justin Fields still in consideration? How will the team continue to address the depth chart, which is surprisingly still in flux?
The playoffs are here, following a grueling regular season. The Steelers made numerous moves through signings and trade—and release. More than usual, they seemed comfortable creating holes, confident they can fill them. Some they managed to fill, others not so much. Now that we have so many pieces of the puzzle, however, we merely have a new set of questions to ask.
