How Steelers Feel After ‘Really Solid’ Meeting With George Pickens

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens is entering the final season of his rookie contract with the team.

Time isn’t an issue for Steelers if the intention is to retain Pickens for the long-term but with the franchise currently in search of a starting quarterback, examining prospects for April’s NFL draft and other potential newcomers, Pittsburgh’s agenda is filled. There’s plenty to address this offseason, however, that doesn’t mean the Steelers are turning their attention away from Pickens before the 23-year-old’s rookie contract expires either.

“I had a really solid exit meeting with GP, and I can tell you that he has a desire to be great,” Steelers general manager Omar Khan said Tuesday at the scouting combine, per ESPN’s Brooke Pryor. “He has a desire to be great here. We have a desire for him to be great and to be great here, with respect to the contract. We won’t discuss that publicly and usually those things are addressed at a later date.”

Pickens spent his third season flourishing as a critical component of Pittsburgh’s offense, totaling 900 receiving yards with three touchdowns across 14 appearances. The franchise’s second-round selection from the 2022 draft missed three games due to a hamstring injury. However, the production Pickens provided the season prior — 1,140 yards with five touchdowns — supplied Pittsburgh with a glimpse of what he’s capable of delivering.

It’s fair to project Pickens, fresh and healthy, can return to tallying career-high numbers this upcoming season while also helping push the Steelers toward greater heights following their collapse in 2024.

Pittsburgh lost its final five games consecutively after starting the campaign at 10-3. Head coach Mike Tomlin’s squad crumbled in the AFC wild-card round to the Baltimore Ravens, sealing the cap on a promising season for the Steelers that quickly became the franchise’s latest failure — Pittsburgh hasn’t won a playoff game in the past eight seasons.

Steelers owner Art Rooney II is booked for an offseason filled with crucial decisions to be made, all while Pickens awaits a contract extension from the on-deck circle. The Georgia product has already established himself as a component as critical as any other to Pittsburgh’s offense so it’s likely the team will continue to reciprocate Pickens’ desire for an extension that’ll keep him in a Steelers uniform for years to come.

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