Wide receiver George Pickens has been a double-edged sword for the Pittsburgh Steelers. His talent is undeniable as he reels in highlight-worthy contested catches like it’s nothing. However, his antics and attitude have many questioning whether he is worth it.
Pickens’ behavior has many wondering if the Steelers will trade him before the trade deadline. These rumors ramped up after Pittsburgh traded for DK Metcalf earlier this offseason and gave him the largest contract in franchise history.
What does Pickens’ future in Pittsburgh look like? Will the Steelers choose to keep him, or will they try to capitalize on his talent with a trade? One NFL insider recently weighed in on Pickens’ fate in the Steel City.
Steelers Likely To Keep George Pickens Around
Pickens was Pittsburgh’s second-round pick in 2022 out of the University of Georgia. He was considered a top talent in that draft, but an injury and some character concerns caused him to drop out of Round 1. Many analysts felt Pittsburgh got a steal at No. 52 overall — if they could keep his behavior positive.
Pickens has been with the team for three seasons and is entering the final year of his rookie contract. If the Steelers don’t offer him an extension, he’ll be a free agent after the 2025 season.
The Athletic’s Dianna Russini recently posted on X about Pickens after discussing him on her podcast, “Scoop City.” She said she thinks it’s unlikely that he’ll leave in 2025.
“I can just tell you, right before the draft and during the draft [the Steelers] were calling around, teams were calling them, there were conversations flying around about George Pickens. But I think it’s probably at this point not going to be something we see happen,” Russini said.
Russini added that she expects the “trade buzz to cool” now that the draft is over.
George Pickens’ name was tossed around in trade discussions this past week. The Cowboys were one of the teams that discussed bringing in the Steelers’ wideout, sources tell me.
But with the draft in the rearview, expect the trade buzz to cool surrounding Pickens. pic.twitter.com/bH25A76RhX
— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) April 29, 2025
It’s impossible to deny that some of Pickens’ frustrations are valid. Since arriving, he has played for five different quarterbacks, a weak offensive line, and endured the Matt Canada offense.
Regardless, he has shown to be a consistent contributor. Pickens has picked up 2,841 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns on his 174 receptions during 48 games in his career.
In 2024, Pickens was Pittsburgh’s primary receiving threat. After failing to secure a WR2 during the previous offseason, Pickens took the brunt of attention from the defenses they faced. While many fans are frustrated with his behavior, the thought of him and Metcalf on the field at the same time is enough to make people drool.
Could DK Metcalf Help Pickens Evolve?
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin told the media after the Metcalf trade that he isn’t worried about the two star receivers co-existing. Even though they both have big personalities, Tomlin said they are different enough to complement each other.
Metcalf, who says he has grown personally, is happy to take a backseat when needed. He is a few years older than Pickens and could be the one who gets the young wideout to realize that his success depends on his attitude.
The 2025 season will be critical for Pickens if he wants to get the kind of contract Metcalf did from any team. He needs to show that he can be a team player both on and off the field.