It always seems that when the Pittsburgh Steelers draft a wide receiver who ends up with an ego larger than the game of football itself, and the Steelers cut ties with them, their career comes to a screeching halt.
Will this happen to George Pickens? Or will he find new success in Dallas that he seemed destined to squander in Pittsburgh? While anything could happen, history suggests his career may go up in a ball of flames. Considering Dallas will make him earn a new contract for 2026, he better hope 2025 is at least still a good year for him..
Hence, if he acts like he did in Pittsburgh, his antics will not go very far in getting a new contract in Dallas, and he will have to take his chances on the open market next year. Perhaps he should have studied what happened to previous Steelers receivers who left Pittsburgh amidst some form of turmoil.
George Pickens could be next among receivers who fail after leaving Pittsburgh Steelers
Antonio Brown
The most obvious example of receivers flaming out when they leave the Steelers is Antonio Brown. At one point, he was arguably the best receiver in the NFL and would have been a first-ballot candidate for the Hall of Fame. In the end, he threw all that away as Mike Tomlin's patience with his antics wore thin, to the point the Steelers traded Brown to the Raiders.
The Raiders, not liking his antics, promptly kicked him to the curb. He briefly went to the Patriots and, after a while, eventually ended up with Tampa Bay until he disgraced himself in a nationally televised game, walking off the field to the locker room. He never played in the NFL again
Martavis Bryant
Martavis Bryant is another receiver who had a bright future until he derailed it. After two years, the NFL suspended him in 2016 for violating the league's substance abuse policy. He did return to the Steelers in 2017 but eventually wound up with the Raiders. Following one season with the Raiders, the league suspended him again for another violation of the substance abuse policy.
He remained suspended until 2024, during which he played in the CFL and the XFL. He did sign with the Commanders in 2024; however, they cut him soon after. Another promising career that was cut short due to actions they could not curtail.
Diontae Johnson
Diontae Johnson wasted no time proving his worth to the Steelers when drafted in 2019, amassing 1161 yards and eight touchdowns in 2021. Then things started to unravel. In 2022, despite having 882 reception yards, he had zero touchdowns. He had fewer yards in 2023 despite overcoming his touchdown drought from the previous year.
However, it was certain the Steelers would not give him a new contract at the end of 2024. Due to reported locker room issues that arose, the Steelers felt it was best for them to send Johnson packing.
They sent him to the Panthers for Donte Jackson, at which point Johnson's career imploded. Carolina traded Johnson seven games into the season to the Ravens, where he quickly became a problem in the locker room.
The Ravens waived him, and the Texans then briefly added him after several injuries at receiver. He couldn't stick there either, and he is now with the Browns on what could be his last chance to stick in the league.
JuJu Smith-Schuster
JuJu Smith-Schuster's career somewhat imploded after leaving the Steelers, though he perhaps had slightly better luck than some of the others in his situation. After going to Kansas City in 2022, he amassed 933 receiving yards.
The following year, he went to New England and, in 2024, back to Kansas City. However, his stats steadily decreased, and it's unlikely he will emerge in any significant capacity for another NFL team.