The Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers are just hours away from the start of the 2025 NFL Draft, and a massive move may be on the way.
DK Metcalf and George Pickens will form one of the best receiving duos in the NFL after the Pittsburgh Steelers acquired him this offseason. In reality, Pickens may not wear a Steelers uniform in 2025:
“It’s just not in their DNA to spend that much on two wideouts,” an AFC GM told Schultz of the Steelers. “Pickens is more available than people think. Green Bay’s been serious, and they’re not the only ones.”
Schultz went on to add that “multiple teams have brought up” Pickens in trade discussions, and while Pittsburgh “isn’t actively shopping him,” he noted that “conversations have taken place.”
The Packers could use an upgrade to their receiver room after Jaylen Reed’s 857 yards led the team in 2024. Pickens would add a different dimension to Green Bay and immediately become the No. 1 receiver for star quarterback Jordan Love.
In 2024, Pickens played 14 games and led the Steelers with 900 receiving yards on 59 catches while adding three touchdowns. The 24-year-old recorded 1,140 yards and five touchdowns in 2023, his lone season eclipsing the 1,000-yard mark.
Pickens is entering the final year of his rookie contract after entering the league as a second-round draft pick in 2022. Steelers general manager Omar Khan told reporters at the NFL Scouting Combine in February that there was mutual interest in keeping him with the team long term.
“I had a really solid exit meeting with GP, and I can tell you that he has a desire to be great,” Khan said at the time. “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.”
However, those comments came before the acquisition of Metcalf in a trade with the Seattle Seahawks, which was followed by a five-year, $150 million contract extension.
After such a substantial commitment to Metcalf, Pittsburgh could have no choice but to give up on Pickens. It would be wise for the Steelers to try to acquire assets for him rather than losing him in free agency next offseason.
Here is a look at Pickens’ career stats:
| Year | Team | Games | Receiving | Rushing | Fumbles | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Rec | Yds | Y/R | Lng | TD | Att | Yds | Y/A | Lng | TD | Fum | Lost | ||
| 2022 | PIT | 17 | 12 | 52 | 801 | 15.4 | 42 | 4 | 3 | 24 | 8.0 | 22 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2023 | PIT | 17 | 16 | 63 | 1,140 | 18.1 | 86 | 5 | 3 | 18 | 6.0 | 16 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 2024 | PIT | 14 | 12 | 59 | 900 | 15.3 | 44 | 3 | 2 | −6 | −3.0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Career | 48 | 40 | 174 | 2,841 | 16.3 | 86 | 12 | 8 | 36 | 4.5 | 22 | 1 | 4 | 1 | |
