Steelers A to Z: George Pickens an unquestioned WR1 but needs to prove he can handle the gig
Editor’s note: From now until the first practice of training camp at Saint Vincent College, TribLive is running through the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 90-man roster, looking at each player and assessing his outlook for the 2024 season. The breakdown will run in alphabetical order with at least two players each day between June 14 and July 25. Contract data courtesy spotrac.com.
WR GEORGE PICKENS
Experience/age: 3rd season, 23
Contract status: $1.84 million cap hit in 2024, signed through 2025
The past: There is no doubting George Pickens’ talent. Not since he was regarded as one of the top recruited high school wide receivers in the country. Not after he had 14 touchdowns over his first 22 college games. Not after he wowed teammates and fans alike during his rookie training camp and preseason with the Steelers. Not when he led the NFL in yards per catch last season.
But for all of Pickens’ ability, he’s never sat alone atop the depth chart of a pro team as its No. 1 wide receiver. A second-round pick out of Georgia in 2022, Pickens has 115 receptions for 1,941 yards and nine touchdowns (along with a rushing touchdown) through two NFL seasons. But those were all with Diontae Johnson as a well-paid running mate. Johnson had more catches per game for the Steelers over that time — and now he’s gone, traded to the Carolina Panthers in March. That leaves Pickens — who is coming off a 63-catch, 1,1140-yard, five-touchdown season — as easily the best receiver on the roster with 2024’s training camp about to begin.
As he prepares to enter his third NFL season, George Pickens is the unquestioned leading wide receiver on the Pittsburgh Steelers.https://t.co/aQozNfkOBr
— Tribune-Review Sports (@TribSports) June 22, 2024
2024 outlook: Can Pickens handle the role? He has plenty riding on it — financially. By this time next year, Pickens will be entering the final season of his rookie contract and therefore eligible for an extension. With the WR market exploding over this past offseason in particular, if Pickens’ production continues to increase, as a 24-year-old coming off a, say, 90-catch, 1,400-yard, 10-touchdown season, he could be asking for a contract in the $35 million-per year range. That would be a fascinating discussion for the Steelers next year.
Of course, that scenario is a big if. Pickens has not gone through a season without a complement in the deft route-running Johnson. For that matter, he hasn’t really made it through even multiple in-season months without some sort of controversy. Be it social-media behavior, perceived lack of effort, complaints about his role or other palpable frustrations, Pickens for whatever reason seems to constantly invite scrutiny.
Then again, few in the NFL have been as adept at creating big plays as Pickens. Only three players last season had as many catches of at least 40 yards. Pro Football Focus’ metrics have ranked Pickens among the game’s best deep-ball receivers each of the past two seasons.
With no clear-cut No. 2, the Steelers are banking on Pickens performing like a bona fide WR1. Pickens is banking on it — literally — too.
Chris Adamski is a TribLive reporter who has covered primarily the Pittsburgh Steelers since 2014 following two seasons on the Penn State football beat. A Western Pennsylvania native, he joined the Trib in 2012 after spending a decade covering Pittsburgh sports for other outlets. He can be reached at cadamski@triblive.com.
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