Steelers third-year wide receiver George Pickens has been spectacular as well as salty thus far in his career. Evidence of his high level of skill has been on display since the Steelers selected him out of Georgia in the second round of the 2022 draft. But frustrations within the Steelers offense have mounted despite his success, and was seen to give what appeared to be a lack of effort on a few plays, most notably a touchdown run by Jaylen Warren vs. Indianapolis.
Pickens’ explanation of that play was less than inspiring.
“I was just trying to prevent the Tank Dell situation, the same thing that happened to (him),” he said of the play following the game, referencing a season-ending injury suffered by the Texans rookie. “I ain’t want to get an injury. When you stay on the block too low, you can get ran up on very easily.”
The play and the comment, plus a reputation he created for himself in college, lead to reasonable questions about Pickens’ attitude regarding the team. And this is a team that will likely continue kicking the tires of free agent wide receivers (like Tyler Boyd) given the decision to trade highly-targeted WR Diontae Johnson.
Post Gazette reporter Brian Batko appeared Friday on 93.7 The Fan and suggested Pickens might not take well to another shark in the tank acqiured via the draft.
.@BrianBatko said that, though it should not affect #Steelers consideration, George Pickens may not take kindly to a WR being drafted in the 1st roundhttps://t.co/pZZXZRqIcM pic.twitter.com/4AEy4e1qJe
— 93.7 The Fan (@937theFan) March 22, 2024
“If you take a wide receiver in the first round, George Pickens is going to feel some kind of way,” Batko cautioned on The Fan’s morning show Friday.
The Steelers, selecting 20th overall, haven’t taken a receiver with a first-round pick since selecting Santonio Holmes in 2006. They’ve used multiple second-round picks on players at the position, much like they did with Pickens.
It wouldn’t be a shock to see them do it, but any receiver they’d add who would be able to come in and excel to the point Pickens would see less of the ball would be a tremendous value-add for the offensive-anemic Steelers.
