The Pittsburgh Steelers have many plenty of headlines throughout the 2025 offseason due to their struggling quarterback situation and the organization's intriguing pursuit of Aaron Rodgers. However, there have been other stories going on in Pittsburgh, two of which are fairly concerning. One is TJ Watt and his upcoming contract extension, and the other is George Pickens and how he is feeling playing for the Steelers. Many believed he could be traded at some point in the 2025 offseason, but now it seems like the franchise wants to keep him around for another year.
If Pickens was going to be traded, it seemed like the best time to do it would have been during the 2025 NFL Draft, but that clearly did not come to fruition. It was reported that the Dallas Cowboys were a team that was interested in the wide receiver, but they could not offer anything good enough to make Pittsburgh pull the trigger.
Other teams were calling and the Steelers were listening to offers, but since a trade did not materialize the organization would have had to be blown away by an offer to get rid of Pickens. NFL reporter James Palmer still believes the relationship between Pickens and the organization is on the rocks, and it is not a sure thing that Pickens plays for the franchise in 2025.
"His time in Pittsburgh, in a lot of people's minds, is limited." Palmer said. "It has not gone well behind the scenes at all between George Pickens and the Pittsburgh Steelers and everybody involved. And this is leading up to, could he play for them in 2025? Certainly could. Would he be departing after the season? Yes, in a lot of people's minds."
The talented wide receiver is coming up on the final season of his rookie contract, and he is currently eligible for an extension. Pittsburgh is not going to give him one as he has shown very little improvement or maturity over the three years he has been with the team. This is initially what sparked trade conversations, considering Pittsburgh will likely be letting him walk after the 2025 season concludes.
It was reported that Pickens toyed with the idea of requesting a trade, but he ultimately decided not to do so as he enjoys playing for the Steelers and under Head Coach Mike Tomlin. While Pickens has been a distraction at times, it is hard not to blame him. The quarterback play in Pittsburgh has been abysmal, and the franchise is so far behind the rest of the NFL when it comes to calling an offense. Palmer reinforced that Pickens will be gone after 2025.
"All signs point to a departure of George Pickens at some point before the 2026 season." Palmer said. "Whether that's some point between now and the start of the season. I don't see a trade happening right now. We'll see, but I think his time is limited there."
If Pickens is not traded by the start of the regular season it is more than likely he will spend the entire season in Pittsburgh. As each game goes by in the regular season his value will drop because he will be a free agent after the season ends, and the Steelers won't trade him away unless the franchise is getting something good in return.
Steelers Holding George Pickens Through The 2025 Season Makes The Most Sense
Pittsburgh has been desperate for help at wide receiver over the last two seasons, and the organization finally got another great player at the position in DK Metcalf. The organization has to see what it is like to what have both Pickens and Metcalf on the field together, or else the offense would be in the same spot it was in in recent years.
Also, even if Pickens leaves the Steelers in free agency following the 2025 season, there is a good chance he will sign a fairly lucrative deal. A deal like that would likely give Pittsburgh a third-round compensatory draft pick in the 2027 NFL Draft.
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