The George Pickens conversation has ebbed and flowed throughout the Steelers’ offseason, with a current flow arising in the aftermath of their prospective trade for WR DK Metcalf. With the start of the new league year today, they are expected to make a move—quite a move. In exchange for Metcalf, they are giving up a second-round pick and giving him a $150 million, five-year contract.
Given that they have their presumed No. 1 WR locked up for the next half-decade, what next? The Steelers only control George Pickens through the 2025 season, and one wonders how he handles it. Many questioned that before the Steelers made a push for Metcalf, so what could this mean?
Putting on his GM hat, Mike DeFabo of The Athletic wondered if it might not be more advantageous to the Steelers if they trade Pickens now, relinquishing their rights that they hold over him for one more season. While he is a true talent, he simply hasn’t had the production, or the maturity. He sees the Steelers perhaps taking “the long-game approach”, both generally, and specifically with Pickens.
“Through Omar Khan’s first two drafts, they loaded up on offensive linemen,” DeFabo wrote. “They’ve tried to restock the defensive line. I think if you’re thinking long-term, getting that pick back may be better than playing out the string with George Pickens and losing him for nothing at the end of the year”.
The Steelers drafted George Pickens in the second round in 2022. In 48 games, he has 174 receptions for 2,841 yards but just 12 touchdowns. He hasn’t had a big issue with drops, though they were worse last season. Largely, he is a vertical player and a big-play threat, boasting a career 16.3 yards per catch. DK Metcalf is three years older, but has more consistent production and also plays a vertical game.
Ultimately, the question comes down to this: what is George Pickens worth to the Steelers in 2025? More specifically, what is he worth this season with Metcalf relative to the future? Are they in a position to make a run at a Super Bowl? Is there any chance of retaining him after this season, and of him maturing?
“If you could get a second-round pick back for George Pickens, and then you could get a guy in the first round like Emeka Egbuka”, DeFabo suggested, then perhaps the Steelers should do it. Now, I don’t know if a team would be willing to trade a second-round pick for four touchdowns per season. Obviously, such a team would have to believe they can get more out of Pickens than the Steelers have.
But there is also some sentiment around the league of teams’ wariness toward Pittsburgh as trade partners. Basically, if the Steelers are willing to trade a player like George Pickens, there is a reason for it. And that reason may put you off of wanting him altogether, or at least balking at the price tag.
One omission on DeFabo’s part is, of course, the compensatory factor. Personally, I don’t see any team giving up a second-round pick to the Steelers for Pickens. Perhaps a third, but they could potentially gain a compensatory third for him in 2027 and still have him for this year. That’s just one more thing the Steelers have to consider if entertaining trade offers for Pickens.
