Steelers are back at square one on offense when they didn't have to be after deciding to trade George Pickens to a longtime rival
The Pittsburgh Steelers desperately needed a second option on the perimeter of their offense in 2024. When George Pickens missed three games with a hamstring injury, it became increasingly clear that they lacked the weapons outside to compete. Then came the trade for DK Metcalf, setting up him and Pickens to be a dynamic duo […]
The Pittsburgh Steelers desperately needed a second option on the perimeter of their offense in 2024.
When George Pickens missed three games with a hamstring injury, it became increasingly clear that they lacked the weapons outside to compete.
Then came the trade for DK Metcalf, setting up him and Pickens to be a dynamic duo in the Steelers' passing attack.
But they never got to play a snap together, meaning Pittsburgh is a DK Metcalf turned ankle away from being right back where they started…
Steelers decision to trade George Pickens to the Cowboys brings them back to square one
George Pickens was always going to be a Pittsburgh Steeler in 2025—until they received the right offer. In their minds, a round three pick from Dallas was that offer. For the past year, the rhetoric coming from the Steelers front office has been about addition in the WR room, not subtraction.
But George Pickens has tested their patience. If not for a strong relationship with Mike Tomlin, he likely would have been gone a long time ago due to his immaturity. Repeatedly being late to practice, team meetings, even chartered flights, Pickens has yet to fully grasp the professional aspect of the NFL according to league sources.
Man, is he dynamic though. The thought of having him and DK Metcalf on opposite sides of the field is why the Steelers had been so hesitant to pull the trigger on a trade, despite the recent reports of activity.
And that's where the price comes in. The Steelers were never going to move George Pickens during the NFL Draft for less than a day-two pick. Add in present value and the fact that Pittsburgh will be loaded with compensatory selections in next year's draft, and the team decided to wait for Dallas to sweeten the offer, which they did.
But now the second-best WR on the team is…Robert Woods? Does Calvin Austin III take a big leap or is Roman Wilson going to actually play in year two? Even if, what happened to wanting to have to ferrari's on the outside?
These are all question that the Steelers brass will have to answer in the coming weeks and months.
Because right now, the move leaves the team right where they started.
