The Pittsburgh Steelers' training camp is underway, with pads coming out this week. Head Coach Mike Tomlin, like the Steelers' coaches who came before him, takes the players to Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, PA, to help them get away from the real world. The players return to what life felt like when they were in college as they stay in dorms and forgo all the creature comforts of home. While some might grumble about rooms, the majority appreciate the camaraderie it helps build.
That doesn't mean the players don't know what is happening in the real world. They keep up with what is going on, including the annual release of the Madden video game player ratings. Every year, NFL players take to social media to brag or complain about where the popular video game has placed them. The latest edition of the game, Madden 25, is scheduled to be released on August 16, 2024, and when wide receiver George Pickens saw his rating, he was apparently not too happy.
The creators of Madden rated Pickens an 83 overall. This isn't low enough to be considered a poor rating; it is much lower than what you would expect from the Steelers' wide receiver. This lower rating came despite having two high ratings: his best receiving attribute, his spectacular catch rating of 96, and a jumping rating also at 96. Regardless of the two high scores, Pickens doesn't like it. He took to Instagram to express his displeasure.
"You alr producing bad gaming 83 is wild," posted Pickens, before accepting the challenge. "Ima fry ya a**."
While Pickens is not the best receiver in the league, Pro Football Focus grades him a solid 75.3. During his first two seasons in the league, he has 115 catches for 1,941 yards and nine touchdowns. It is only fair to note that Pickens has been a part of an inconsistent and often shoddy offensive scheme under Matt Canada. In addition to the poor play-calling, the Steelers quarterback situation was unstable, and all of the receivers suffered from a lack of targets.
When the ball did make it to Pickens' way, he proved to be a master of the contested catch. His gravity-defying leaps quickly made him a fan favorite. Pickens improved slightly from year one to year two, and Madden has indicated in their explanation that it is possible for his rating to go up if he performs well.
The Steelers have made significant upgrades to their offense this offseason. It is more than hiring Arthur Smith as the coordinator; they have bolstered the offensive line in the past two drafts and acquired all new quarterbacks. Pickens has shown himself to be a passionate competitor while in black and gold, and he is developing chemistry with his new teammates. Hopefully, this motivation, along with the changes and the chemistry, will translate to an offense that can consistently move the ball down the field.
Steelers' George Pickens Is Ready To Step Up
When the Steelers traded Diontae Johnson to the Carolina Panthers this offseason, Pickens automatically moved up the depth chart to the top spot. This left the media and fans in a frenzy, wondering if the team would find a second wide receiver elsewhere. The name Brandon Aiyuk got tossed around a lot, but even though he is a hold-in at camp, he hasn't left the San Francisco 49ers.
It isn't like Pickens is the only receiver on the team. The Steelers did select Roman Wilson in the 2024 NFL Draft, but Pittsburgh is not known for throwing its rookies to the wolves. They also have several other depth pieces like Van Jefferson and Quez Watkins.
When Pickens was asked how the receiving corps feels about the current group, he said they believe they are good. He doesn't see the need to bring another player in. Of course, that feels on-brand for Pickens (and every other receiver in the league), who wants every ball to come his way.
