Let’s play in the hypothetical sandbox for a minute. … and maybe stir the pot while we’re at it.
The Pittsburgh Steelers currently hold the 21st overall pick in the NFL Draft, valued at 800 points on Jimmy Johnson’s iconic Trade Value Chart. It’s a strong asset — but maybe not enough to secure the future face of their franchise in a quarterback like Jaxson Dart or Shedeur Sanders. (Assuming the Steelers even like Shedeur. At all.)
Some Steelers fans may feel like the path to trading up in the draft vanished the moment Pittsburgh dealt its second-round pick for DK Metcalf.
But if we’re being honest about George Pickens’ current value across the league, the door is still very much open. Pickens, like Metcalf, carries legitimate market weight — and many evaluators would argue his value is comparable to that of a second-round pick.
In other words, Pickens is your second-round pick in any potential trade-up scenario. He’s also entering the final year of his rookie deal, which means Pittsburgh is at a crossroads: either flip him now and cash in while his value is still high, or let him play out the year and potentially walk for nothing more than a compensatory third-round pick in 2027.
If the Steelers are serious about chasing their next franchise quarterback, this is the kind of calculated move that keeps them in the game — and maybe ahead of it.
So what if Pittsburgh really does sweeten the trade pot … with George Pickens?
Let’s peg Pickens’ trade value around the same ballpark as what Seattle recently paid for Metcalf: pick 52, worth about 380 points. That makes the combined trade offer (800 + 380) worth 1,180 points — nearly a perfect match for a top-12 pick.
The Dallas Cowboys hold the No. 12 pick … and are broadcasting the news that they want to trade down.
On paper, the math checks out. But on the field? The logic might be even stronger.
If the Steelers believe Jaxson Dart is the guy, then flipping Pickens and pick 21 becomes a no-brainer. Elite quarterbacks are expensive. And a bold move up the board is exactly the kind of swing franchises take when they’re ready to reset.
Sure, losing a talent like Pickens might sting. But in a year where the AFC is wide open and the Steelers are caught between timelines, this is exactly the kind of power move that would turn heads — and maybe turn the page in Pittsburgh.
