The Pittsburgh Steelers signed veteran quarterback Russell Wilson to a one-year deal at the veteran minimum this offseason. Wilson has stepped into his role with the Steelers with professionalism and confidence, presenting himself as a natural leader. Although there has been speculation about a quarterback battle with Justin Fields, Wilson has conducted himself as if he’s the assured starter for Week 1.
Wilson remains upbeat and has spoken highly of his new wide receivers. Despite ongoing concerns about the depth in the Steelers' receiving corps, Wilson insists that the group is exceptional. He has even described it as one of the best he’s ever played with.
Recently, Wilson appeared on teammate Cam Heyward’s podcast, Not Just Football. During the episode, he was asked about his wide receiver group and specifically praised George Pickens, calling him potentially one of the greatest receivers in the game.
"I think the best thing about him is he has this natural instinct for the ball. His ability to track the ball, his ability to effortlessly get open in certain spaces," Wilson said. "I don’t think he ever gets tackled the first time. I literally don’t think he gets tackled."
This isn’t the first time Wilson has praised Pickens so highly. Throughout the offseason, Wilson has repeatedly hinted that Pickens is among the best wide receivers he has ever played with.
Considering Wilson's impressive career and his experience with several star receivers, his high regard for Pickens speaks volumes.
"I feel like part of my responsibility to push him every day to what it's gonna take, and that's the part that I love," Wilson said. "You know I have been around guys like DK [Metcalf], who was a monster, guys like Tyler Lockett, who want to be great every day and guys like Courtland Sutton, who want to be great every day."
Since entering the NFL, Pickens has consistently lived up to the hype. Over his two seasons, he has recorded 115 catches for 1,941 receiving yards and nine touchdowns. Averaging 16.9 yards per reception, Pickens has demonstrated the explosive playmaking ability that has impressed Wilson.
His ability to break tackles and make big plays stands out, especially given that he has thrived despite struggling with poor quarterback play and a challenging offensive system.
"I think George has every bit of potential to be one of the best to play this game," Wilson said. "It takes work, though. It takes obsession. It takes wild, wild obsession. And I think that he's on that track. It's been cool to watch his growth even from OTAs to now."
Pickens' attitude and effort have occasionally been questioned, casting a shadow over his promising potential. During the 2023 season, he made headlines for some negative reasons, but his demeanor notably improved towards the end of the season when Mason Rudolph took over as quarterback.
The Steelers are hopeful that Pickens will continue to mature and step into a leadership role. If he succeeds, he could enjoy a long and distinguished career in Pittsburgh. However, if attitude issues persist, the team might consider moving on from him once his rookie contract expires.
Despite the criticisms, Pickens is undeniably talented and one of the league's most skilled wide receivers. There is considerable optimism among Steeler Nation that, with Wilson as his quarterback in the 2024 season, Pickens can reach his full potential. Wilson himself has praised Pickens, calling him one of the best receivers he has played with.
Steelers' George Pickens Is Obsessed With The Game Of Football
Wilson has emphasized that Pickens needs to be obsessed with the game—a sentiment Pickens has confirmed, revealing that he often stays up all night thinking about football.
Given the challenging circumstances Pickens has faced, his ability to produce on the field is commendable. Steelers fans should give him the benefit of the doubt and see how he performs in a new system with improved quarterback play. His attitude is going to be a major subject to watch during the 2024 season. Many inside the organization appear confident that Pickens will be a much more positive leader in the upcoming season.
