Pittsburgh Steelers GM Omar Khan said earlier within the week on the NFL house owners conferences in Florida that the DK Metcalf commerce doesn’t affect wide receiver George Pickens in any respect, including that you simply want a couple of receiver in as we speak’s NFL.
However that isn’t stopping media from persevering with to generate buzz concerning a Pickens commerce, particularly after the Steelers hosted Texas WR Matthew Golden — a possible first-round decide — for a pre-draft visit Thursday and Iowa State WR Jaylin Noel on Friday.
For Professional Soccer Focus’ Dalton Wasserman, Pickens might discover himself on the commerce block in the course of the 2025 NFL Draft because the Steelers might look to recoup a draft decide from the Metcalf commerce.
“Pickens is coming off a season wherein he earned a career-high 79.7 receiving grade and was probably the greatest deep threats within the NFL. Nevertheless, the Steelers’ acquisition of DK Metcalf brings his quick and long-term position into query. Metcalf garnered a large contract extension, nevertheless it appears unlikely that Pittsburgh would pay Pickens as nicely within the method that Cincinnati has accomplished with Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins,” Wasserman writes. “He might keep in Pittsburgh for the 2025 season, albeit in a considerably redundant position to Metcalf, however there are doubtless a number of groups in want of a vertical risk that might no less than inquire about Pickens.
“The Steelers would doubtless request a Day 2 decide in return to stability out what they gave up for Metcalf.”
On paper, there’s concern about redundancy with Pickens and Metcalf, contemplating each are large, bodily receivers who win downfield in contested-catch conditions. However Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin downplayed the redundancy, saying they’re completely different receivers.
And whereas Khan may need said that they want a couple of receiver behind Metcalf, if there’s a approach to recoup a draft decide and transfer on from Pickens in a contract 12 months, it looks as if one thing the aggressive GM would do — if the value is correct.
Add that the Steelers have already got one big-ticket contract in place at receiver in Metcalf, who signed a five-year, $150 million deal, and it’s very unlikely the Steelers will pay Pickens, particularly earlier than the beginning of the 2025 season. That raises the potential for a commerce, which might make sense because the Steelers could try to move off a receiver who has had some issues with maturity in his three years in Pittsburgh.
So, all eyes are on the draft and what Khan might do, whether or not that’s buying and selling again within the first spherical, shifting round on Day 2 or Day 3, or shifting on from a participant like Pickens to get a decide or two again. All bets are off.
