The George Pickens saga has consumed the Steelers’ offseason, or a minimum of the parts not consumed by Mike Tomlin’s quarterback quandary. What are the Steelers to do with their mercurial star, who has expertise and childishness in equal abundance? To which facet do the Steelers consider the size is tipping going into his last season?
Mike DeFabo of The Athletic wonders if which may not rely upon who you ask inside the Steelers facility. And I believe you may guess who shares what opinion. Whereas Mike Tomlin may acknowledge that George Pickens has some rising as much as do, he appears to consider he’s the one who will nurture that development. Maybe in any respect prices.
Talking on 93.7 The Fan lately, DeFabo believes Steelers president Artwork Rooney II’s latest feedback confirmed clear frustration with George Pickens. “However Mike Tomlin, to his credit score and in addition to his fault, I believe believes he can repair anyone”. He stated that he offers Tomlin credit score for his “sense of loyalty and obligation”, which certainly has borne fruit earlier than.
“However in different cases, it’s nearly like he’s too Mike Tomlin, the place he’s a lot himself that he feels some obligation to repair George [Pickens] or assist him attain his potential when, actually, he ought to really feel an obligation to successful a playoff sport”, he added. As a reminder, the Steelers haven’t received a playoff sport since 2016, their longest drought of the Tremendous Bowl period.
DeFabo added that he believes that is the place “Omar Khan and Artwork Rooney have to step in and be like, ‘Look, you haven’t carried out it but. It’s been three years. It is perhaps getting worse greater than it’s getting higher. Let’s simply get a pick of it and remake that place’”.
However what sort of commerce compensation might the Steelers get for George Pickens? Clearly, they acquired a excessive second-round decide for Chase Claypool. Usually, they’ve gotten fairly good return on funding when buying and selling vast receivers. However has their cachet run out with regards to their popularity as a large receiver manufacturing facility?
That’s what I can’t assist however marvel when considering the Steelers buying and selling Pickens. Even within the case of Claypool, he was nonetheless in the midst of his third season. Pickens is within the last 12 months of his deal, and admittedly, he’s by no means come near a nine-touchdown season. Sure, everyone has seen Pickens’ spotlight reel, however I believe groups are extra aware about the lowlights, too. I believe whether or not he has confirmed able to being a real No. 1 WR is debatable.
And there’s the straightforward truth that everyone is aware of Mike Tomlin thinks he’s the issue little one whisperer. He thinks he can save each head case; if the Steelers are giving up on George Pickens, that’s an enormous purchaser beware.
It must be a group just like the Bears who actually covets Pickens making a ridiculous provide. And to be truthful, that’s not unimaginable. He has expertise that may be seductive, and somebody on the market will suppose they’ll unlock him. No query, he might put up higher numbers in a extra productive offense. But it surely’s a bet as as to whether extra constant manufacturing would result in higher conduct.
