Some have questioned whether Pittsburgh Steelers WRs DK Metcalf and George Pickens can coexist. The new guy in town faced just that question during his introductory press conference but shared no such reservations. Of course, a player isn’t going to say “we’re gonna have a problem” the first time he speaks with his new team. But he took it a step further, and said he hopes they have a mutually beneficial relationship.
“Football is the ultimate team game, first off, so you shouldn’t be on a team if everybody doesn’t want the football”, Metcalf said, referring to the antics the Steelers have had to put up from Pickens over the past three years when his frustrations take over. “I will say that”.
“Just to know George [Pickens] from the little conversations that we had in passing, great player, watching from afar”, DK Metcalf said of his new Steelers teammate. “The receiver coach calls him ‘freak show’, and I think that’s a fitting name for him with the circus catches that he makes. But I’m just here to try to instill any wisdom or any knowledge that he allows me to, and vice versa. I feel like there’s some things that I can learn from him that he does”.
Now, if Alex Highsmith can learn a thing or two from Nick Herbig, then surely Metcalf can learn from Pickens. He has been in the league for three years, after all, and his experience with the Steelers is another perspective. Metcalf spent his entire career in Seattle, and comparing notes on playing with Russell Wilson could help, too.
There does seem to be some level of respect between the two, as well. Even though Metcalf signed a $150 million contract from the Steelers, he didn’t even consider trying to get his No. 14 jersey from Pickens.
Many argue that Metcalf and Pickens have a similar game, making the latter expendable. All reports thus far, however, indicate that the Steelers have no intention to trade Pickens. Of course, they said that before every other trade they’ve made in the past too. All it takes is the right offer to come along at the right time.
After all, they likely only have him for one more season, barring a major development. DK Metcalf is the future with the Steelers, and George Pickens’ future is elsewhere. He will be an unrestricted free agent in 2026 and will be looking for his own $150 million deal. He is obviously not going to find it in Pittsburgh—the organization made its decision.
Even though the Steelers don’t have a starting quarterback yet, that doesn’t faze Metcalf. And perhaps Pickens feels like he’s used to not playing with a quarterback in Pittsburgh. That’s what it’s felt like at times over the past three years, though less so in 2024. With two big mouths to feed, can the Steelers keep both Metcalf and Pickens “fat and sassy”?
