{"id":37987,"date":"2025-04-03T02:21:33","date_gmt":"2025-04-03T02:21:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/?p=37987"},"modified":"2025-04-03T02:21:33","modified_gmt":"2025-04-03T02:21:33","slug":"breaking-steelers-wont-trade-george-pickens-for-one-key-reason","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/?p=37987","title":{"rendered":"BREAKING: Steelers Won’t Trade George Pickens for One Key Reason.."},"content":{"rendered":"
The Pittsburgh Steelers trading for receiver DK Metcalf made George Pickens expendable, but that doesn’t mean general manager Omar Khan will operate off of that surplus.<\/div>\n
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When the\u00a0Pittsburgh Steelers\u00a0traded for receiver DK Metcalf, sending a second-round pick to the\u00a0Seattle Seahawks, they acquired both a star receiver and the flexibility that comes with him.<\/p>\n

Without acquiring Metcalf, it becomes awfully hard to imagine the Steelers not extending leading receiver George Pickens. With a second standout in the building that\u2019s an option, and might be enticing given the redundant skill sets the two receivers possess.<\/p>\n

For all their talents, Metcalf and Pickens are both size\/speed threats who do their best work downfield, making for an interesting experiment for offensive coordinator Arthur Smith.<\/p>\n

The\u00a0Steelers\u00a0could feasibly move on from Pickens and pivot to a different high-level receiver, whether it be early in the\u00a0NFL Draft or in that hypothetical trade. However, general manager Omar Khan won\u2019t trade Pickens for one key reason, which he detailed on Monday.<\/p>\n

“No, we need more than one receiver in this league, and we’re fortunate to have George (Pickens) and Calvin (Austin) and we’re excited about what Roman (Wilson) is going to be,” Khan said\u00a0at the annual league meetings.<\/p>\n

Trading Pickens would effectively bring\u00a0Pittsburgh\u00a0back to Square 1.<\/p>\n

It was clear in 2024 that Pickens alone was not enough to build an above-average passing offense. He\u2019s too easy to take away by his lonesome, and the combination of Van Jefferson, Calvin Austin, and\u00a0Mike Williams\u00a0wasn\u2019t enough to threaten opposing defenses.<\/p>\n

Metcalf, with 6,324 yards and 48 touchdowns to his name, solves that issue. Trading a second-round pick and tacking on four years and $132 million to Metcalf\u2019s contract only to kneecap themselves simply isn’t a good process.<\/p>\n

If the season falls apart and it\u2019s clear Pickens isn\u2019t extending, trading him becomes a viable option. But with semi-real competitive aspirations and an urgent need to improve the passing offense, trading away a key cog in that machine would be akin to going into the season without an upgrade under center.<\/p>\n

Throw in a draft class that isn\u2019t ripe with elite receiving talent, and the idea becomes even more dubious. This is a team that could still use reinforcement in the passing game. Taking a step back after March\u2019s massive step forward would be another stagnant move from an organization with a newfound proclivity for that brand of mediocrity.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Pittsburgh Steelers trading for receiver DK Metcalf made George Pickens expendable, but that doesn’t mean general manager Omar Khan will operate off of that surplus. 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