Former Steelers Wideout Prefers George Pickens Over DK Metcalf

The Pittsburgh Steelers parted ways with George Pickens in a decision that’s drawn some debate.

Pickens was traded to the Dallas Cowboys in a move that makes room for offseason acquisition DK Metcalf to become the undisputed No. 1 receiver in Pittsburgh next season. The front office signed Metcalf to an immediate five-year, $150 million contract, which led many to believe the team’s next starting quarterback would walk into a dream one-two wideout punch of Metcalf and Pickens next season.

Instead, the organization pulled a trigger that ex-Steelers wideout Plaxico Burress did not agree with.

“How this hurts the Pittsburgh Steelers, they didn’t get any better. I don’t believe, when it comes down to playing the position and playing the game of football, that DK Metcalf is a better wide receiver than George Pickens,” Burress said, per Blitzburgh. “I would not agree to that. We know that George Pickens, when he’s playing and he’s focused, he’s one of the top five ball players at the position. There’s no dispute in that. There’s no doubt about it, but we got to get the young man focused so he can reach his full potential and become one of these elite wide receivers in all of football.”

Pickens was a homegrown product in Pittsburgh with loads of potential. The 24-year-old, selected in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft (52nd overall), showed flashes throughout his three-year stay with the Steelers. Pickens totaled 1,140 receiving yards with five touchdowns across 17 games in 2023, however, repeated maturity issues began rubbing Pittsburgh the wrong way as the Georgia product was due for a contract extension.

Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin called Pickens out following Pittsburgh’s Week 13 win over the Cincinnati Bengals.

“He’s just got to grow up, man,” Tomlin told reporters, per ESPN’s Brooke Pryor. “This is an emotional game, man. These divisional games are big. He’s got a target on his back because he’s George, he understands that. But he’s got to grow up. He’s got to grow up in a hurry.”

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