The Pittsburgh Steelers have struggled on offense throughout the last several seasons. A lot of that has had to do with inconsistency at the quarterback position, along with poor play-calling in certain situations. These things can be frustrating for a wide receiver, and that has certainly been the case with George Pickens. Pickens has been visibly upset during multiple games for the Steelers, and his antics on and off the field have grown concerning. The franchise had probably hoped Pickens would show some signs of maturity by now, but that has not happened.
There were trade rumors surrounding Pickens going into the 2025 NFL Draft, as many believed Pittsburgh might consider dealing the wide receiver in order to recoup some draft capital from acquiring DK Metcalf. The draft concluded with Pickens still on the roster in Pittsburgh, but there were some teams contacting the Steelers, including the Dallas Cowboys.
Both Chase Daniel and Dianni Russini were discussing the Pickens' situation on the latest episode of Scoop City, where Russini confirmed that Pittsburgh was taking calls in regards to their fourth-year wide receiver. Daniel chimed in, stating something he heard about Pickens that should make the Pittsburgh fan base somewhat optimistic.
"You know an interesting thing, just a quick nugget that I've heard about George Pickens, a very reliable source," Daniel said. "George Pickens, he actually really likes his time in Pittsburgh, because of Mike Tomlin. Mike Tomlin and him have a very strong relationship is what I've been told. And I heard this today and it made a lot of sense, I don't know if George Pickens' antics could fly anywhere but Pittsburgh"
This is something that might be a surprise to a lot of fans, especially with the way Pickens has acted during and after games sometimes. He doesn't always seem like he enjoys where he is at, although that could be the case for a lot of athletes who lose a competitive battle. The inconsistent quarterback play and poor play-calling has not driven Pickens away from Pittsburgh yet, but the organization still might look to deal him before the season begins.
The trade buzz surrounding Pickens should die down now that he was not dealt during the draft, but the possibility is still there. The most interested team in the receiver was the Cowboys, and it should be noted that Dallas did not draft a wide receiver at all. That means the need at the position is still there for Dallas, which could drive them to offering more than they should to Pittsburgh for Pickens.
It would not make much sense for the Steelers to trade Pickens, as the team would be in the same spot it was in during the 2024 season. Pittsburgh has two great receivers for the first time in a while, and the organization should take advantage of that and see what could happen. The lack of a starting quarterback is concerning, but the weapons on offense should give fans an optimistic outlook on the 2025 season.
Steelers' Entire Offense Opens Up With Two Great Receivers
Pittsburgh loves to try and run the football, but in 2024, the team was not able to do it super efficiently. That had something to do with the young offensive line, but it also has to do with the passing game being ineffective. If the passing game is not working, then the defense can sell out to stop the run. Having two great receivers in Pickens and Metcalf should be able to keep that from happening.
An effective passing game will open up the running game for Jaylen Warren and rookie running back Kaleb Johnson, and in turn, the great running game will help the pass. This is what a balanced offense is supposed to sound like, although the Steelers haven't had one of those in many years.
