An early re-drafting of the Steelers 2022 NFL draft class

Steelers round 2

Original Pick: George Pickens, WR, Georgia

My Pick: George Pickens, WR, Georgia

The only pick that I keep in this mock draft, George Pickens has all of the makings of an elite receiver. He possesses the size, speed, and hands to dominate at the next level. On top of this, he played as well as he did against SEC defensive backs. For a team that was lacking at receiver, landing Pickens in the second round was about as good as it gets.

While there are some maturity issues with Pickens, one has to expect him to grow out of some of them. As well, his route running isn’t as sharp as you would want a pro to be (although most college receivers are in the same boat). That said, few receivers match his physicality off the line and big playability. He was a dominant player in the SEC from his rookie season. The sky is the limit for Pickens.

I fully believe that had Pickens not torn his ACL and missed most of last season, he would have been selected far before the Steelers pick in the first round. He has so much talent and can play almost anywhere as a receiver. The only complaint you could find in the pick was the team not targeting more of a traditional slot receiver. That said, Pickens has a legitimate chance to be a top receiver in this league. I wouldn’t have gone anywhere else with this pick.