George Pickens has established himself as the Pittsburgh Steelers’ top wide receiver in the three seasons since the franchise selected him in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft. That appears unlikely to be the case in 2025 after the Steelers added DK Metcalf.
Many analysts have speculated that the addition of the two-time Pro Bowler could bring Pickens’ time in Pittsburgh to an end, and with trade rumors swirling ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft, the Seattle Seahawks and Green Bay Packers are expected to be the top landing spots for the 24-year-old.
Seahawks and Packers Could Land George Pickens in Draft Day Trade
Pickens has been a difference-maker at wide receiver over his three seasons in Pittsburgh. He has recorded 2,841 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns on 174 receptions in 48 career games.
However, he hasn’t been given an extension yet, and with the Steelers handing Metcalf a four-year, $132 million extension, Pittsburgh is unlikely to pay both receivers top-of-the-market value.
According to Bleacher Report NFL Insider James Palmer, the Steelers are “doing a lot of work” on receivers in the 2025 NFL Draft, which further suggests that Pickens’ departure is imminent.
Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report floated the Seahawks and the Packers as the top two potential landing spots for Pickens and projected his price point as a mid-Day 2 draft pick.
“Teams that miss out on a top receiver prospect on opening night and have the cap space to extend Pickens should be interested in making an offer,” he wrote. “Ironically, the Seahawks could be among those teams. Seattle added Kupp but traded Metcalf and released Tyler Lockett. They could use another receiver to help support new quarterback Sam Darnold. Receivers coach Frisman Jackson held the same position in Pittsburgh in 2023—which was Pickens’ only 1,000-yard campaign to date.”
Seattle ranks in the top 10 in terms or remaining 2025 cap space, as do the Green Bay Packers. While Green Bay traditionally prefers to build through the draft, it could use a legitimate No. 1 receiver, and Pickens might be able to fill that role.
“Green Bay might also have a path to acquiring Pickens that doesn’t involve draft capital. The Packers have listened to trade offers for cornerback Jaire Alexander, though no deal is imminent,” according to Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Jayden Reed, Romeo Doubs, and Christian Watson don’t exactly form a wide receiver corps that strikes fear into opposing secondaries—but that’s who Packers quarterback Jordan Love had to work with last season. Green Bay still lacks a true No. 1 target for their franchise signal-caller, and George Pickens could be exactly what they need.
Meanwhile, the Seahawks signed Cooper Kupp and Marquez Valdes-Scantling this offseason after moving on from DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett. They already have a rising star in Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and while adding Pickens would undoubtedly strengthen the group, Seattle may hesitate to part with a second-round pick given other roster needs.