Between defensive struggles, offensive line injuries, and a late-season collapse, the Pittsburgh Steelers had enough problems on their plate. They didn’t need receiver George Pickens to add to it.
Pickens ran into trouble a handful of times in 2024. Penalties, drops, and tardiness have all left marks on his campaign, and his hesitancy to address it head on publicly hasn’t helped his case.
Head coach Mike Tomlin has largely shielded Pickens, acknowledging that growth was necessary but opting to deflect a few bullets when the situation called for it. It isn’t clear what Tomlin has done to help Pickens mature. It isn’t clear if it’s worked yet, either.
Subsequently, the team’s top receiver has earned himself a reputation – one that doesn’t align with the successful Pittsburgh teams of years past. Some proud Steelers have sounded off. Former Pittsburgh lineman Kendall Simmons grew tired of Pickens on the “Joba and the Mouth Show.”
"If you gonna be a cancer, you gotta go," Simmons said. "To me, it’s that simple. George, he has to own things and stuff that he like and he don’t like. But he has a superstar ability, I really do believe that. It’s just the off-the-field stuff that is gonna keep him from being All-Pro and all those different accolades that he could possibly get just based on his talent. I don’t see him being there for much longer. He’s going to wear out his welcome if he hasn’t already."
Pickens has been the subject of trade rumors, and it isn’t too difficult to imagine Tomlin looking elsewhere for production on the boundary. He’s let quality receivers walk out of the building before, and with a contract extension looming, Pittsburgh could shop him to teams in need of an upgrade.
Beyond scrapping with a Cleveland Browns defensive back on the final play of a loss or having to dodge accusations of being a lazy route runner, Pickens has entered opposing game plans for all the wrong reasons. He’s underlined as the most dangerous member of the passing attack. But get in his head early and he’s liable to settle the score, as he did against the Cincinnati Bengals, adding two wildly unnecessary penalties to three catches, 74 yards, and a score.
The Steelers weren’t incentivized to deal Pickens when he was the lone threat at receiver. But with an offseason to add talent to the passing game, it’s possible he comes expendable. At any rate, his season didn’t improve the chances he gets extended.
Simmons could be proven right in the coming months, although the Steelers’ apprehension to change might help keep Pickens around.
