The Pittsburgh Steelers' wide receiver search didn't end when general manager Omar Khan traded for Seattle Seahawks Pro Bowler DK Metcalf. With just a few weeks before the 2025 NFL Draft, the Steelers are meeting with Iowa State wide receiver Jaylin Noel, Brooke Pryor of ESPN reports.
Noel turned heads at the NFL Combine when he ran a 4.39 40-yard dash to go with an elite 41.5'' vertical jump and 11'02'' broad jump. Now Noel joins Jayden Higgens as the second Iowa State receiver to receive a pre-draft visit by the Steelers.
Interestingly, Pittsburgh's visit with Noel comes shortly after their top-30 with Texas receiver Matthew Golden. The Steelers' latest pre-draft visits could be hinting at their future plans next to DK Metcalf... and those plans may not include George Pickens.
The Pittsburgh Steelers could replace George Pickens with a better compliment for DK Metcalf
The Pittsburgh Steelers have been most successful over the years when they have a go-to wide receiver who can create separation at will and run a full route tree. Their recent pre-draft visits with Golden and Noel point to the Steelers finding a better complement for DK Metcalf.
After trading a second-round pick for Metcalf and handing him a five-year, $150 million contract, there's no question the team is going to utilize their shiny new toy. But their interest in receivers with polar opposite skill sets suggests George Pickens could be on the way out.
Anyone who has watched Pickens and Metcalf can see how their skill sets greatly overlap. Both players do their best work vertically and box out defenders down the field with their impressive size and high-point ability.
While deploying two receivers of this mold would make for some difficult assignments for defensive backs, it could lead to a high-variance offense—one that is riddled with explosive plays down the field but lacks consistency from play to play and game to game.
Because of this, Pittsburgh's interest in players like Golden and Noel makes it evident that they want a better complement next to Metcalf for the long haul. Both players stand at 5'11'' or under but possess outstanding lateral quickness, fluid hips, and impressive change of direction skills.
It's safe to assume that George Pickens is essentially a one-year rental at this point, as his contract expires during the 2026 offseason. Don't be surprised if the Pittsburgh Steelers take a perfect complement to DK Metcalf early in the NFL Draft.