The Pittsburgh Steelers nonetheless have a choice to make about WR George Pickens this offseason. Whereas he’s underneath contract for 2025, leaving his standing as-is might create issues. The fourth-year receiver is within the last yr of his deal, sometimes when starters obtain extensions. Many have urged that if the Steelers don’t intend to increase him, they need to commerce him as a substitute.
Addressing the media yesterday, Steelers president Artwork Rooney II inevitably mentioned Pickens. “I nonetheless assume George has sufficient expertise that we’ve acquired to attempt to work and see if we will get him to achieve and fulfill the expertise that he actually has”, he stated. “Who is aware of if we will get there. We’ll see”.
At each flip, the Steelers both make excuses for George Pickens or say he must develop. Which tactic they take appears to depend on how a lot scrutiny the mercurial receiver is underneath on the time. If experiences are true, step can be to get him to start out exhibiting as much as work on time.
Whereas Rooney spoke about tapping George Pickens’ full potential, he acknowledged the Steelers hadn’t tapped the contract dialog. “No, we haven’t gotten into speaking about his contract but”, he stated through 93.7 The Fan.
The Steelers’ 2022 second-round decide, George Pickens completed his third season with 59 catches for 900 yards and three touchdowns. Though he missed three video games, his three touchdowns are a brand new profession low. Since coming into the league, he has 174 receptions for two,841 yards, 12 receiving touchdowns, and one dashing landing.
Pickens ranks twenty second within the NFL in receiving yards since getting into the league in 2022. He ranks forty second in receptions and forty fourth in receiving touchdowns. He was the Steelers’ main receiver throughout that point, at the very least in yards. TE Pat Freiermuth, for instance, caught seven touchdowns final yr.
One can simply argue that Pickens hasn’t earned an enormous extension together with his manufacturing up to now. Three totally different gamers caught at the very least 12 touchdowns this season, by no means thoughts over a three-year interval. A complete of eight totally different gamers over the previous three years have at the very least 12 touchdowns in a single season.
Whereas Pickens is supremely gifted, he’s not supremely productive. He definitely has his highlights, however he additionally has his share of lowlights. The Steelers’ season finale for the 2024 season was one such lowlight, dropping a number of passes on six targets. He completed the sport with one catch for zero yards.
At different instances, he seems to be the one participant on the sector who could make a play for the Steelers. However does he put within the requisite effort to be knowledgeable participant value a $30 million APY contract? If he hasn’t, what are the possibilities he will probably be that kind of participant by this time subsequent yr? These are the questions the Steelers need to ask themselves earlier than approaching George Pickens with any contract provide.
