Since his freshman year with the Georgia Bulldogs, George Pickens has been turning heads. The lengthy receiver routinely makes some of the toughest combatted catches you will see. As a result, Pickens has emerged as a budding star for the Pittsburgh Steelers. But he's more than just a player who wins with his natural feel for the game and brilliant hand-eye coordination.
Despite his 6'3 1/4'' frame, Pickens has the speed to win down the sideline and pull away from defensive backs in the open field. This aided him in an eye-popping 10.8 yards per target in a second-season breakout in 2023.
Before entering the draft, Pickens posted an official 4.47 40-yard dash at the 2022 NFL Combine, and his play speed on the field matches his sub-4.5 clocked time.
In this piece, we will dive into Pickens' early career, analyze his 40-yard dash performance, and determine where he ranks among his NFL peers.
George Pickens' Background and Early Career
George Pickens never flew under the radar. Since his high school days, the talented football player was considered one of the best players in the nation. Pickens was a four-star recruit and the fifth-ranked wide receiver in the country coming out of Hoover High School in Alabama, according to 247Sports.
Despite being just 17 years old during his freshman season at Georgia, Pickens had video clips go viral thanks to his diving catches and big plays down the field. One particular catch during a practice from 2019 went viral on social media.
Pickens' athletic traits were on full display throughout his high school and college career, so it was no surprise to see him clock in with a sub 4.5 40-yard dash at the 2022 NFL Combine.
Analyzing George Pickens' 40-Yard Dash Performance
Unlike many NFL Draft prospects, Pickens did not back out of the 40-yard dash in Indianapolis. His official laser time was 4.47 at the 2022 NFL Combine. The big receiver stood on this time and elected not to run during his Georgia Pro Day workout.
Long before the Combine, Pickens clocked a 4.73 at ESPN's College Combine Workout. This was the same number 247Sports had on the talented wide-out coming out of high school. NFL Draft Scout had Pickens' highest hand time at 4.48 during spring practice with a low of 4.42.
Where did George Pickens' 40 Time Rank Among Wide Receivers in the 2022 NFL Draft
Player | School | Time | Draft result |
|---|---|---|---|
Tyquan Thornton | Baylor | 4.28 | 50th overall |
Velus Jones Jr. | Tennessee | 4.31 | 71st overall |
Calvin Austin III | Memphis | 4.32 | 138th overall |
Danny Gray | SMU | 4.33 | 105th overall |
Bo Melton | Rutgers | 4.34 | 229th overall |
Christian Watson | North Dakota State | 4.36 | 34th overall |
Garrett Wilson | Ohio State | 4.38 | 10th overall |
Chris Olave | Ohio State | 4.39 | 11th overall |
Skyy Moore | Western Michigan | 4.41 | 54th overall |
Alec Pierce | Cincinnati | 4.41 | 53rd overall |
Isaiah Weston | Northern Iowa | 4.42 | Undrafted |
Kevin Austin Jr. | Notre Dame | 4.43 | Undrafted |
Jahan Dotson | Penn State | 4.43 | 16th overall |
Khalil Shakir | Boise State | 4.43 | 148th overall |
Wan'Dale Robinson | Kentucky | 4.44 | 43rd overall |
George Pickens | Georgia | 4.47 | 52nd overall |
Where did George Pickens Rank Among Wide Receivers in NFL History
While a 4.47 40-yard dash is a very respectable time for a receiver over 6'3'', it doesn't come close to cracking the ranks as one of the greatest in league history. According to Mockdraftable's database, Pickens' 4.47 40-yard dash ranks in the 62nd percentile among all wide receivers at the NFL Combine since 1999.
Fastest 40 Times in NFL History
Player | Position | Time | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
Xavier Worthy | Wide Receiver | 4.21 | 2024 |
John Ross | Wide Receiver | 4.22 | 2017 |
Kalon Barnes | Cornerback | 4.23 | 2022 |
Rondel Menendez | Wide Receiver | 4.24 | 1999 |
Chris Johnson | Running Back | 4.24 | 2008 |
Breshad Perriman | Wide Receiver | 4.24* | 2015 |
Demarcus Van Dyke | Cornerback | 4.25 | 2011 |
Jerome Mathis | Wide Receiver | 4.26 | 2005 |
Dri Archer | Wide Receiver | 4.26 | 2014 |
Tariq Woolen | Cornerback | 4.26 | 2022 |
DJ Turner | Cornerback | 4.26 | 2023* |
*Denotes 40-yard dash time not from the NFL Combine.
Key Moments in George Pickens' NFL Career Attributed to His Speed
During this rookie season in 2022, George Pickens recorded a 42-yard catch down the sideline against the Ravens when he flew past Marlon Humphrey. The safety help on the play prevented him from picking up yards after the catch.
In 2023, Pickens exploded for an 86-yard catch and run against the Cincinnati Bengals. This was the play of the year for Pittsburgh's offense and came on a simple post route. Pickens did all of the work by outrunning a host of Bengals defensive backs and linebackers for the touchdown scamper.
Pickens' long strides and deceitful speed down the field helped him notch six plays of 20-plus yards in his first two seasons in the NFL.