It only took one week to prove Steelers' offseason WR swap has become a disaster

The Pittsburgh Steelers are in a fantastic spot following Week 16. Not only did they upset the Detroit Lions 29-24, but the Baltimore Ravens choked a 24-13 fourth-quarter lead on Sunday night against the New England Patriots. That gives the Steelers two different ways to clinch the AFC North before their grudge match with the Ravens in Week 18.

Despite all of the positivity surrounding the Steelers right now, there is an undeniable truth that was made clear in Week 16.

Pittsburgh's decision to move on from George Pickens this offseason seemed to be justified at first, with the talented but immature receiver wearing out his welcome over his three seasons with the Steelers. His breakout with the Dallas Cowboys is painful enough for fans to watch happen, but DK Metcalf's huge mistake in Week 16 makes the decision to move on from him look even worse.

DK Metcalf's fan altercation makes Pittsburgh Steelers' George Pickens trade look even worse

The whole point of moving on from Pickens was the Steelers' looking to avoid dealing with his lack of maturity. Whether it was boneheaded penalties, inconsistent effort, or general lack of self-awareness, the 2022 second-round pick had plenty of memorable missteps while in Pittsburgh.

The talent he possesses, however, was undeniable.

All you have to do is watch what he is doing in Dallas right now, and his ability to be a premier receiver in the NFL is easy to see. The Steelers knew they couldn't afford to move on from him without making a corresponding move for a new No. 1 target, so they made a deal with the Seattle Seahawks to bring Metcalf to town.

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The irony of the move was undersold at the time, but Metcalf himself wasn't exactly known as a beacon of maturity during his days in Seattle. Still, things had improved since his early days in the league, and he was viewed as a potential upgrade over Pickens thanks to his experience and overwhelming athleticism.

Instead, not only has he not been a better player, but he did something not even Pickens has ever been foolish enough to do. During the Steelers' win over the Lions, Metcalf appeared to get into a physical altercation with a fan in the stands, and he is now all but certain to face discipline from the league office.

It's unclear what kind of punishment will be dished out at this time, but if Metcalf (and the Steelers) are lucky, he will just receive a hefty fine for his actions. A suspension could easily be in the cards as well, which could have a massive impact as they try and clinch the division against Cleveland next week.

Regardless of what happens to Metcalf as a result of his actions, it's more clear than ever that the Steelers made the wrong decision when choosing who their top receiver would be for the future. All they can hope now is that it doesn't cost them a division title and their first home playoff game in half a decade.