George Pickens might not be a free agent until after the 2025 season, but the talented Steelers wide receiver will want his money as soon as possible. Pickens saw Diontae Johnson complete a hold-in with Pittsburgh a couple of years ago, which awarded Johnson a nice two-year extension.
Pickens knows his worth and many top receivers in the NFL are getting top dollar. The question is: are the Steelers comfortable giving Pickens a big contract?
No one will ever debate Pickens' talent level which makes him the top playmaker for Pittsburgh. His issues continue to be after the whistle. Whether it is a bad reaction to a play, flags that hurt the team, or fighting the opposition, Pickens is not a team-first player. Omar Khan and Mike Tomlin will have to seriously discuss if it is worth the gamble to pay Pickens top dollar this offseason.
If they decide that Pickens is not worth the gamble, there could be an obvious path to take. They would have to move on from their star receiver rather than pay him. A trade would make the most sense. They have money to spend in free agency, and some quality talents should be available. Pittsburgh has also been historically good at drafting receivers so they could go that route too.
Pittsburgh could trade George Pickens if tensions become too big
It would be one of the most talked about deals in Pittsburgh if the Steelers were to trade Pickens this offseason. A lot would still have to transpire for this situation to play out. Their top receiver would have to show more problems out of game time. If he shows an increase in issues that result in distractions for the team, then Tomlin and Khan could get scared of offering him an extension.
If that played out, it would be difficult to fault them for trading Pickens, or at least testing his value on the market. He needs a new contract, but one would have to imagine that plenty of teams would line up to try and acquire his services. Pickens is a top receiver for most teams in the NFL, and Pittsburgh should be able to fetch at least a solid draft pick in the upcoming event if they do move him.
Steelers could sign Tee Higgins to big contract in free agency
If they were to trade Pickens like in this situation, then that would mean any future contract the Steelers had in mind for cap spending could go elsewhere. That is where free agency comes into play. Some quality options are currently pending free agents who could interest Pittsburgh. The most notable could come from a hated rival like the Cincinnati Bengals.
Tee Higgins is primed to have a great opportunity this offseason as he should be the top receiver available. There have been rumors about both the Steelers and Higgins having potential interest in each other. He might be a second option with the Bengals, but he could be a solid top receiver for the Steelers. Higgins will command a lot of money, but it shouldn't be as much as Pickens.
Steelers could an extra WR early in the NFL Draft
Let's not forget about Roman Wilson, but it is concerning that he will miss his rookie campaign in the NFL. That could put him behind the eight-ball with the coaching staff next year, and that could result in another receiver taken early in the draft. Even if the Steelers would trade Pickens and sign someone of the caliber of Higgins in free agency, they should still invest in the position.
It has been one of the weaker spots on the roster, and adding Wilson, Higgins, and another top receiver early in the draft should help fix their woes. There are a couple of interesting names who will probably be linked to Pittsburgh like Emeka Egbuka, Isaiah Bond, Kyren Lacy, and Tre Harris just to name a few. Losing Pickens would be a hit, but this would be a perfect backup plan for the Steelers.