The Pittsburgh Steelers got their wide receiver by way of trade. After nearly a full calendar year of speculation with every notable name being linked to this team, it ended up being DK Metcalf. The compensation? A second-round pick and a late-round pick swap in favor of Pittsburgh.
The move itself should be praised. This was a fair price for Metcalf, and he provides a great top option for the offense. However, his new deal will shift the focus on what happens to George Pickens.
I have written about it before, but Pickens is one of the brightest young talents in the NFL. He has incredible body control, strong hands, and has developed as a route runner and after the catch threat. Given his young age, the sky is the limit talent-wise for Pickens.
Unfortunately, his talents come at a cost.
Pickens is one of the most immature players in recent history. Every game feels like the team is on pins and needles to see just how Pickens acts out. Now ready for his first new deal, the problem with Pickens is only growing.
DK Metcalf is the last straw for the Pittsburgh Steelers and George Pickens
Given the semantics of this deal and the new contract he signed, it is safe to assume that Pickens isn’t in line for a new deal this offseason. That leaves you with the option of trading him now or letting him play out the final year of his rookie deal.
While trading away Pickens suddenly makes the receiver room shallow again, you still have the rest of free agency and the draft to make that right. Numerous free agents would make sense as the second receiver in this room, and the draft has its options as well.
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Keeping Pickens on an expiring deal is far too risky. There is little reason to believe that he will keep his head on straight with an expiring deal, and that is a recipe for disaster. Even if he did ball out, you would then be forced to franchise tag him or let him test free agency. It doesn’t seem like a great option no matter how it plays out.
Shipping him out now allows you to recoup some of the picks lost for Metcalf. It also takes a major headache off your roster. Add in the fact that both receivers are your classic vertical threats and there is an argument to be made about redundancy.
Simply put, Metcalf gives you a top option in the room no matter what you do with Pickens. All things considered though, getting what you can for Pickens now has to be the goal following the Metcalf deal, as you no longer have to deal with his childish tactics.