George Pickens future with the Steelers

If they lose whether they have him on the team or not (at least lose in the playoffs or not even make it) what does it matter whether or not he is on the roster?
I am 67 yrs. old and went to my first Steeler game at old Pitt stadium in 1968. Kent Nix was our back up QB. The Steelers were so bad (playing the Minn Vikings) that everyone was calling for "Nix! Nix!, Nix!". I was eleven years old and I was yelling Nixon! My dad said" Not Nixon, He's a politician"

Anyway, we have come a long way in professional sports since then. Million dollar divas that feel disrespected because they aren't targeted with every throw.
So, sorry for the rant.

 

I can see that point, we aren't a contender with Pickens and we won't be a contender without him. So why put up with the nut case?

 

Pickens is a poor man's Randy Moss...super talented but can be lazy or headcase when not involved or getting the ball. If he goes somewhere with a legit QB or offense he could be a top 5 talent. It doesn't help when our run game is **** and not respected and we dont have a legit #2 WR so teams are just doubling Pickens all the time and they aren't scheming him open with crossing routes because Russel Wilson doesn't throw over the middle. It also didn't help that Picken's had Diontea Johnson as a role model his first 2 years (aka not running routes and not blocking).

 

But I heard a rumor this is all non sense made up by the media

 

I'm not so concerned with George Pickens blocking. Because Najee Harris is getting stopped at the line of scrimmage. And never gets down the field like Saquon Barkley. I don't want him blocking for 16 plays per game. I want him being targeted for 16 plays per game. I want George Pickens getting tired from catching passes and runs after the catch, not from downfield blocking. That's where the Steelers offense has gone wrong.

 

I have often thought the same thing. If we get rid of Pickens, we then need a quarterback, a running back, at least two good wide receivers and maybe three, plus all the defense and offensive line players they're on people's wish list.

It would be a lot easier to get two good wide receivers then it would be to get three.

 

I agree. We don't have an influx of talent at the position... Currently he IS the talent at the position. Even a Higgins contract wouldn't make Pickens tradeable, because then we'd be in the same spot as we were in 2024 as a one WR team (and I'd argue that Pickens is a more talented player than Higgins to boot). We'd have to spend a high pick on a WR at the very least to even consider it addressed in a meaningful way (and that's a crapshoot, as sometimes players bust no matter how good you are at scouting the position).

This isn't the Killer B's era where we could afford to let Sanders and Wallace walk because we had Brown, Bryant, etc. We have one high end guy, and everyone is saying that we "have" to trade him. I don't see a realistic scenario where we trade GP and have a better WR room in 2025 than we did in 2024 and that is scary. We don't have to extend him if we don't think he is employable, but letting him ride out his contract and then tagging him doesn't seem like the worst idea in the world. It certainly affords us the time to re-work the room and figure it out.

 

And how are you getting him open 16 times a game

 

Probably by having another WR on the team that is a threat of doing anything with the football on any given play. Having a high end #2 option will open the field up for GP, because if they continue to incessantly double and send safety help, then the #2 will make them pay. I'm not saying GP needs 16 targets a game, but a viable #2 will get him open a lot more (and in turn, a lot more targets).

 

George Pickens is always open. Just ask him.

 

I just want to know if Khan learned anything from watching how the 49ers played the Brandon Aiyuk game? Did John Lynch just teach everyone how to negotiate a deal with a player on your team, by allowing him to contact other teams and allow them to negotiate for you.

The Steelers basically setup the contract that Aiyuk would eventually sign with the 49ers. Aiyuk was probably want $35 million when the 49ers first approached him, and then had his figure comedown when the Steelers told him how much they were willing to offer him. Pretty smart way to get a player currently under contract to your own team to go out there and find out what he is actually worth, so he will accept less money.

If the Steelers want to resign Pickens this year, I think Khan should play the John Lynch game with Pickens. Let Pickens go out and see what other teams are willing to offer him in the form of a new salary, and then make a counter offer to Pickens for a new deal.

 

The Steelers typically do this with FA

Wilson and Fields most likely will be handled this way

Ditto Najee Moore and a few others

 

It allows the player to understand what they are truly worth in the open market, then lets us negotiate from a position of strength having that information at hand.

I really hope we can get a deal done with GP. In all honesty, we probably could get away with not extending him this offseason and then play the tag game if we have to. He is the type of talent you do what you can to keep him on the roster though. Its not going to be easy to find another guy with as much talent as him (even if we draft in the first round).

 

It would work if Pickens wants to stay with the Steelers. Asides from money, there was no reason for Aiyuk to leave. He in an explosive offense with a quality QB tossing him the ball. Once he confirmed his market value, he was happy to re-sign. Pickens is stuck in a mediocre offense with Wilson/Fields throwing the ball. I doubt we will significantly outbid anyone. Why would he stay to average 70 yards/game?

 

I start off by giving him a few step back screens and short passes to bring the secondary forward. I'm also making smaller db's tackle him in space. 2ndly, I'm moving him around, like in the slot similar to how they get all great receivers open like Justin Jefferson, Larry Fitzgerald types.

 

Some posters still not understanding WR2 is of little value in A. Smith's offense. WR1+ RB+2(3)TEs. Aka, 12 or 13 personnel. Do you really want to pay a guy $30M to catch a few balls a game?

 

I might be the only one who thinks the idea of Pickens is a head case is way overblown.

Keep him. As an earlier poster said, you don’t address the issues with WR depth by getting rid of your best one.

 

They ran 96% of their plays out of three personnel groupings this year: 11 (53.6%), 12 (26.7%), and 13 (15.6%).

They ran 22-personnel just once, and it was negated by penalty; and 14-personnel 15 times (1.2%).

I think we can justify a solid WR2 as being a sound investment in resources.

 

There is one poster who keeps trying to blame this perception on “the media”

 

I imagine that the Steelers are going to potentially go all out for Tee Higgins or opt for a mid grade WR FA signing; Christian Kirk, Darius Slayton, Amari Cooper or even DeVante Adams. Take your pick.


Next phase is to likely get a WR in the class but it depends on some factors. For one, if the team can nab Higgins or even Kirk, Pittsburgh likely isn't touching the position until Day Three. If not and either Cooper or Adams gets signed, I suspect another Wideout will be taken before the end of Day 2.

 

Kirk and Adams still remain under contract. So they'd need to work a trade to acquire either. There are rumors Adams could be a cap casualty (though they sit ~$20M under currently).