Steelers Plan To Pay George Pickens Regardless Of Potential Trade

The Pittsburgh Steelers have been hunting for a star wide receiver to pair with George Pickens for some time now. The player the Steelers have been linked to the most has been San Francisco 49ers receiver Brandon Aiyuk.

After weeks of rumors, the Steelers seem to have a deal with the 49ers for Aiyuk. If Pittsburgh trades for Aiyuk, they will pay the star wideout nearly $30 million annually. The wide receiver market is skyrocketing, and with Pickens seeking an extension in just two years, will Pittsburgh sign him as well?

Pittsburgh is reportedly eyeing a new contract for receiver Pickens amid trade rumors for Aiyuk. Even if the Steelers trade for Aiyuk, they still plan on giving Pickens a No. 1 receiver contract according to the Pittsburgh Post Gazette’s Gerry Dulac.

“If the 49ers agree to a trade, the Steelers will finalize a new multi-year contract for Aiyuk,” Dulac reports. “But, no matter the amount, it will not affect what the Steelers do when Pickens becomes a free agent after the 2025 season, according to team sources. The Steelers consider Pickens their No. 1 receiver and intend to pay him accordingly.

“Paying two top receivers has not always been the norm for the Steelers, going back to when they let Plaxico Burress go once they paid Hines Ward. When they didn’t re-sign Mike Wallace, they gave the money to Antonio Brown. Once they did that, they didn’t re-sign Emmanuel Sanders when his contract was up after the 2013 season.”

The Steelers have not paid multiple receivers in recent years, but seem willing to with Aiyuk and Pickens. If Pittsburgh locks down these two superstars, their offense will be one of the best in the league for years.

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