George Pickens couldn’t stay quiet after T.J. Watt’s massive payday

The former Steeler still took the time to comment.
AFC Wild Card Playoffs: Pittsburgh Steelers v Baltimore Ravens
AFC Wild Card Playoffs: Pittsburgh Steelers v Baltimore Ravens | Cooper Neill/GettyImages

The Pittsburgh Steelers may have spent a good chunk of the 2025 NFL offseason trying their best to remake the roster after stagnating over the last few years, but one bridge they would not cross was getting rid of superstar pass rusher TJ Watt. As a result, Watt has been locked up long-term.

Watt agreed to a three-year, $123 million contract that pays him more than Myles Garrett and makes him the highest-paid defensive player in NFL history. After locking up both him and DK Metcalf on long-term contracts, the Steelers now have a plan for how to contend without Aaron Rodgers.

One of the casualties of Pittsburgh's offseason moving and shaking was wide receiver George Pickens, who was traded to the Dallas Cowboys after a very volatile three-season stint in Pittsburgh. It doesn't seem like Pickens is wishing anything bad on his former teammates based on his recent social media activity.

Pickens replied to Watt's celebratory Instagram post, congratulating Watt for getting the long-term extension that he was seeking with his former employer. Things may not have ended very smoothly between Pickens and the Steelers, but it doesn't seem like he has very many hard feelings.

Former Steelers WR George Pickens celebrates TJ Watt contract extension

Watt's contract will pay him $41 million per year over four seasons, which is slightly more than Garrett's $40 million per year contract that spans four seasons. Watt also received $108 million in guaranteed money, which mirrors the 108 sacks he has amassed in black and gold so far.

While the Steelers have made no bones about the fact that they are emptying the tank in a 2025 season that is likely going to be Rodgers' swan song in the pros, the extension to Watt shows that Pittsburgh is not eyeing a complete tear-down rebuild once No. 8 leaves town.

While Watt gets taken care of, Pickens will need to figure out a way to either earn himself a long-term commitment from a cash-strapped Dallas team in need of a WR2 behind CeeDee Lamb or pump up his value as much as possible before hitting the open market.

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