Pittsburgh Steelers GM Omar Khan stated earlier in the week at the NFL owners meetings in Florida that the DK Metcalf trade doesn’t affect wide receiver George Pickens at all, adding that you need more than one receiver in today’s NFL.
But that isn’t stopping media from continuing to generate buzz regarding a Pickens trade, especially after the Steelers hosted Texas WR Matthew Golden — a potential first-round pick — for a pre-draft visit Thursday and Iowa State WR Jaylin Noel on Friday.
For Pro Football Focus’ Dalton Wasserman, Pickens could find himself on the trade block during the 2025 NFL Draft as the Steelers could look to recoup a draft pick from the Metcalf trade.
“Pickens is coming off a season in which he earned a career-high 79.7 receiving grade and was one of the best deep threats in the NFL. However, the Steelers’ acquisition of DK Metcalf brings his short and long-term role into question. Metcalf garnered a massive contract extension, but it seems unlikely that Pittsburgh would pay Pickens as well in the manner that Cincinnati has done with Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins,” Wasserman writes. “He could stay in Pittsburgh for the 2025 season, albeit in a somewhat redundant role to Metcalf, but there are likely several teams in need of a vertical threat that would at least inquire about Pickens.
“The Steelers would likely request a Day 2 pick in return to balance out what they gave up for Metcalf.”
On paper, there is concern about redundancy with Pickens and Metcalf, considering both are big, physical receivers who win downfield in contested-catch situations. But Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin downplayed the redundancy, saying they’re different receivers.
And while Khan might have stated that they need more than one receiver behind Metcalf, if there is a way to recoup a draft pick and move on from Pickens in a contract year, it seems like something the aggressive GM would do — if the price is right.
Add that the Steelers already have one big-ticket contract in place at receiver in Metcalf, who signed a five-year, $150 million deal, and it’s very unlikely the Steelers will pay Pickens, especially before the start of the 2025 season. That raises the possibility of a trade, which would make sense as the Steelers could try to move off a receiver who has had some problems with maturity in his three years in Pittsburgh.
So, all eyes are on the draft and what Khan could do, whether that’s trading back in the first round, moving around on Day 2 or Day 3, or moving on from a player like Pickens to get a pick or two back. All bets are off.
