With the addition of DK Metcalf, some have wondered what that could mean for the future of George Pickens and the Pittsburgh Steelers. As one of Kevin Colbert's final draft picks, the front office used a second-round pick to acquire Pickens, and the explosive wide receiver has produced quality numbers in lackluster offenses early in his career. Pickens has all the talent in the world, but he continues to be a distraction with his antics during games.
The wild stunts he pulls between the whistles or the temper tantrums on the sidelines are getting old. Mike Tomlin isn't getting any younger and could be tired of babysitting characters like Pickens. Most of the trade contemplation could directly result from Aaron Rodgers's decision. If he signs, moving Pickens wouldn't make a ton of sense for a team shooting for a Super Bowl.
Still, Pittsburgh could be fed up with Pickens and his antics. A trade is a possibility for the right price. Since the toxic receiver heads into a contract year, there are no limits to what he might do when training camp rolls around. Steelers general manager Omar Khan should listen to potential trade offers that might come his way. It would be wise to have a backup plan.
No one should expect Pickens to play nice when he wants a new contract, especially after the Steelers gave one to Metcalf after his trade.
Pittsburgh Steelers mock trade has Omar Khan sending George Pickens to the Las Vegas Raiders
Trade speculation became rampant after George Pickens posted cryptic messages on his social media—that included a photo of Tom Bray, now part owner of the Las Vegas Raiders. The legendary quarterback remains a top decision-maker for that franchise. His post could be misunderstood, but Pickens has started beef in the past.
The Steelers' offensive weapon could be laying the groundwork for a contract dispute or trade request. If he wants to leave Pittsburgh for the Raiders, he would be a nice fit. Las Vegas needs more weapons on offense. They just added Geno Smith as their starting quarterback, and they only have Brock Bowers as a legitimate weapon. Adding Pickens would help turn them into playoff contenders.
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Pittsburgh lost their second-round selection to the Seattle Seahawks in the Metcalf deal, so they would love to have one in return. This mock trade nets them a high second-round pick in the upcoming draft, which would be an upgrade over what the Steelers gave up.
Pickens is a great player, but adding this pick to their arsenal could help lead to a quality receiver to replace him.
The biggest gamble here would be if the replacement they chose in the draft turned out to be a bust. Having Pickens on the roster with Metcalf could lead to some locker-room problems, but having those weapons will make their offense dynamic. Khan has to be smart about his next move. They can't let a contract extension become a problem with Pickens, or they will have wished they traded him.