When George Pickens unfollowed the Pittsburgh Steelers' Instagram page, it spoke volumes about his satisfaction with the franchise. It was rumored that the team attempted to trade the wide receiver ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft.
With Pickens in the final year of his rookie deal, tensions may escalate as Pittsburgh enters the new season. Will he get out of the Steelers' turf soon or not?
Maturity Concerns Hurt Pickens' Trade Value
Pickens' undeniable physical ability wasn't sufficient to guarantee a trade. According to Steel City Insider, sources say that issues regarding his maturity and emotional stability severely hurt his market value. Even with flashes of brilliance, such as his late-2023 breakout games against the Bengals and Seahawks, Pickens' on-field attitude appears to be questionable for the team.
A revealing anecdote was witnessed during Pittsburgh's Week 18 defeat to Cincinnati last year when Bengals players apparently heard Pickens complain more than compete. With an All-Pro in him, such psychological slumps are continuing to hold him back from joining the NFL elite.
Pickens' Unused Potential Is a Risk for Pittsburgh
Selected in the second round back in 2022, Pickens has demonstrated he can take over when motivated. He's reached 1,000 yards once in three seasons and scored merely 12 career touchdowns, including a disappointing three scores as part of the 2024 season. Although inconsistent play from the quarterback position and minimal help from the offense are partially to blame, Pickens' troubles have been equally mental as they've been physical.
In response, the Steelers traded a second-round pick for veteran DK Metcalf in the hopes that a more robust receiving corps will bring out Pickens' best.
How the Steelers Plan to Manage George Pickens in 2025
Pickens' situation with the Steelers will be one of the dominant storylines leading up to 2025. Certainly, Pickens can't say he wasn't slighted by Pittsburgh trying to trade him, according to CBS Sports. But he will need to stay focused if he wants to become a huge-money player in 2026.
The Steelers' failure to draft a wide receiver indicates that they still have faith in his ability. Pittsburgh also hopes that Metcalf, and perhaps future signings such as Aaron Rodgers, are a stabilizing force both on and off the field.
Despite the drama, Pickens showed emotional maturity last season. His bounce-back game in Week 13 against Cincinnati demonstrated his improvement after initial adversity,
If these plans do not work well for the Steelers, they could go for plan B, which is getting Kirk Cousins.
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