Could the Pittsburgh Steelers be working on a trade to send one of their most talented skill players to the Las Vegas Raiders?
The internet loves a juicy rumor, and speculation about George Pickens’ future keeps heating up. The latest scenario has Pickens in a Raiders uniform after the 2022 second-round pick posted a photo alongside the legendary Tom Brady.
George Pickens Heats Up Raiders-Steelers Trade Rumors
Pickens casually posted a picture of himself standing next to Brady on Instagram, leaving many to wonder if a Steelers-Raiders trade was imminent.
Brady is a minority owner in Las Vegas and knows the value of having a star receiver on the roster — just ask Randy Moss. The Raiders recently traded for Geno Smith to shore up the quarterback position, so adding a polished weapon on the outside would seem to be a priority.
Oh Boy: George Pickens posted a picture of him and the legendary Tom Brady on IG 👀
Brady is one of the owners of the Raiders…
Is Pickens hinting at a potential change?? pic.twitter.com/tt31iXQj2q
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman)
Jakobi Meyers (87 receptions, 1,027 yards) returns as the Raiders’ No. 1 wideout, while tight end Brock Bowers (112 catches, 1,194 yards) has quickly become one of the most dangerous threats in football.
Adding Pickens would give Smith an exciting group of weapons. Pickens had 59 receptions for 900 yards and three touchdowns last season despite playing in a mostly stagnant offense. The 6’3″, 200-pound receiver also missed three games due to a hamstring injury.
For his NFL career, the 24-year-old has 174 receptions for 2,841 yards and 12 touchdowns, averaging 16.3 yards per catch over his first three seasons.
Steelers Trying to Move Pickens?
There have been multiple reports suggesting the Steelers could be interested in moving Pickens this offseason. The blockbuster trade for All-Pro receiver DK Metcalf only intensified those rumors, especially after Pittsburgh handed Metcalf a $150 million contract extension.
Top 5 WRs in 2024 in Deep Ball Rate: 🤔
1. Alec Pierce- 43.5%
2. George Pickens- 29.1%
3. Josh Palmer- 27.7%
4. DK Metcalf- 25.9%
5. Calvin Austin III- 25.9%— Lindsay Rhodes (@lindsay_rhodes)
Pickens is also seeking a contract extension, as he enters the fourth and final year of his rookie deal. So far, there have been no reports of serious negotiations with Pittsburgh. Meanwhile, Metcalf is locked in at $30 million per year.
“I think there is zero chance that happens,” The Athletic’s Mark Kaboly said of Pickens getting an extension (via Steelers Depot).
“You pay Metcalf $30 million … this is almost a one-and-done. I don’t see any way that he would come back at all.”
Pickens’ Off-the-Field Baggage Could Play a Factor
Calls for the Steelers to trade Pickens might also stem from concerns off the field. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported that he had issues with “tardiness” at team meetings last October, leading to reduced snap counts. The report also made an unflattering comparison to former Steeler Antonio Brown.
“A source told the Post-Gazette Pickens has shown up late for work on multiple occasions this season,” wrote Ray Fittipaldo. “Antonio Brown was notorious for being late, but Tomlin never reduced his snap counts.”
george pickens is a terrible human being ðŸ˜ðŸ˜ pic.twitter.com/chUM4BEGXg
— tag! (@taggartkent)
Tardiness isn’t the only criticism. Pickens has also been called out for questionable on-field behavior, dating back to his college days at Georgia. Some have accused him of not giving max effort on his routes, and he drew attention for wearing expletives on his eye black.
With all this swirling around, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Pittsburgh make a move. Pickens has the talent to net a solid return in a trade.
