The Pittsburgh Steelers find themselves between a rock and a hard place when it comes to wide receiver George Pickens.
Pittsburgh no doubt needs Pickens this season, even after the trade for wide receiver DK Metcalf, as the team doesn't have much behind those two. However, Pickens is also entering the final year of his rookie contract and his poor attitude has made it difficult to believe the team will want to extend him.
If the Steelers don't want to risk losing Pickens for nothing next year, they might look to trade him away this offseason. Bleacher Report's Kristopher Knox thinks that's a possibility and sees Pickens landing with the Arizona Cardinals.
- Cardinals Get: WR George Pickens
- Steelers Get: 2025 3rd-round pick, 2026 4th-round pick
"If the Cardinals do use their first-round pick to bolster the line, swinging a trade to upgrade the receiving corps would be logical," Knox wrote. "Marvin Harrison Jr. showed potential as a rookie last season, but Arizona could use another difference-maker opposite him. There's a non-zero chance that the Pittsburgh Steelers could make George Pickens available after acquiring DK Metcalf in a trade."
When he keeps his head on straight, Pickens is a dynamic wide receiver who can be a No. 1 option in an offense. Pickens, who is a threat all over the field, has tallied 800 yards or more in each season and had a career-best 1,140 yards in 2023.
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Making those numbers more impressive is the fact that Pickens has never had an ideal situation at quarterback. Catching passes from Kyler Murray would likely amount to the best situation Pickens has ever had.
Adding Pickens to the Cardinals' offense would give the team quite the one-two punch at wide receiver when you include Marvin Harrison Jr. And, with Michael Wilson and Trey McBride also in the mix, Murray would have a fantastic group overall that has the potential to be one of the best in the NFL.
However, we could see the Steelers asking for Wilson back in return in order to fill the void left by Pickens. Getting Wilson in the Pickens trade would mean less of a draft pick return but that would be well worth it with the Steelers looking to compete in 2025.
If the Steelers don't get Wilson back, we still don't think Knox's proposal is going to cut it. Seeing as how Pickens is a total wild card because of his attitude and his contract situation, we'd suspect a third-round pick will be the most he garners should Pittsburgh decided to move him.
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