Steelers working to trade Pickens to the Cowboys

Tomlin going to so mad you and I and probably many others are betting on his first losing season.

 

I always thought Pickens was heading for a Holdout this year. Pickens was not going to play on his rookie deal, and the Steelers were not going to give him a new contract.

If Pickens would have held out all 2025: I think he would still be a Steeler in 2026 with 1 year left to go on his rookie contract. The Steelers probably would then have released him in 2026. Would this "Cut" from the team make him ineligible for Comp picks?

 

I still haven't seen the full compensation we got for Pickens
. is the deal not final?

 

If it wasn't clear, the quotes ARE from a Ravens board. They are opinions just like the ones posted here.

Facts are Pickens wasn't well liked by the players according to insiders.
But if you don't believe the locker problems then suggest you consider his sideline behavior and other things listed.

And his replacement will now be a huge part of the offense, along with less distractions.

 

The way to break up with a team is to scrub social media of all references to them, and that's what Pickens did with the Steelers on Friday. He removed all references to the Steelers from his Instagram page and posted "Free Me" on an Instagram story, according to 93.7 The Fan's Audacy page and other reports, including Blitzburgh. Pickens might have also unfollowed teammates Diontae Johnson and Kenny Pickett and coach Mike Tomlin, according to On3 Sports. Many noticed that Pickens didn't seem to celebrate Johnson's touchdown when he scored Thursday night in a 20-16 win over the Tennessee Titans.

Reads like a player the Steelers should have done everything possible to keep happy and on the team another season.....

 

I heard an interesting take on the Pickens trade. The Steelers screwed the Cowboys. the reason that they said that is actually incredibly simple. The Steelers have a fantastic history of getting rid of problem children wide receivers right before they truly self-destruct.

Just from recent memory, Chase Claypool, Juju Smith-Schuster, Antonio Brown..... They were all traded away from the Steelers and none of them did well after leaving us. And to some degree, they all blew up or at least declined dramatically in their production.

So, perhaps we received some trades for what was about to be a major problem?

 

Uh. No offense but....But that is rocket science thinking being applied to the Steelers front office. I think they didn't want to pay Pickens and this way we ay least get sumpin. By the way. I'm betting ypu have the greatest excuses for missing work!!!!

 

I have an excellent reason for missing work. Ok, that is actually a big lie. I don't miss work at all. I am retired.

Saw a nice black bear race across the road today and a really big pile of grizzly scat that was not there on our drive in. Being retired and doing what I want when I want is awesome! Great way to spend a Wednesday.

You might be right though. I am just trying to see a silver lining. Because the reality is that we do not have a strong passing game with a single WR holding down the #1, #2 and #2.5 spots on the roster no matter who the QB is. Dropping Pickens takes us right back to that unless Roman Wilson turns out to be great, or someone like CA really steps up.

Also supporting your line of thinking is that we have a few potential expensive contracts in the near future. Having paid DKM a fortune, the tarot cards don't see enough money left for a big payday on another WR.

Here is a video by Tom Grossi that pretty well sums up what many of us are probably thinking.....lol

 

actually, aren't we in danger of not paying out enough of the cap? Don't we have to spend at least 90% or something of the cap and I heard we're not there yet. Someone have the scoop on that?

 

If they rid themselves of him because he’s locker room trouble, then that falls on coaching at the very top.

If they rid themselves of George because they don’t want to pay him, that falls on drafting at the very top.

Either way, and or both, this is a failure from coaching and staffing.

 

JuJu and AB won the Super Bowl after leaving the Steelers.

 

Juju did all right for himself. AB got his participation trophy as WR4. That is a big fall.

Don't forget DJ!! 3 teams in one season might be a record of some kind.

 

AB was only a luxury for the Bucs...He implodes big time at the end with the bucs and what he has done with the raiders was just crazy

 

You nailed it.
Yeah, we got "rid of a problem" but sort of created bigger problems.
I kind of like to use Washington as an example, I know them very well.

But the new regime came to be and at WR they only had Terry McLaurin.
Adam Peters and Dan Quinn scoured what was out there and brought in some guys that could help until they could address it properly.
They had a great season.
Now they've gone out and addressed the issue multi-fold... they traded for Deebo and drafted well to protect Daniels as well as a trade there too for OL.
Key take away is they went right to the heart of the weakness.
They understand 'the window of opportunity' whereas we do not. Sure our draft is decent but our WR and QB problems are 800lb gorillas in the room.
Now I do give some leeway for drafting Howard. But I think he's a guy you'd like to work a year or two behind a quality Vet who's at the end of his career.
We have Mason, who looked absolutely terrible last season.. I'm not sure he'd have a job if not for us.
Quinn and Peters have reworked that roster nicely in a short period.. and they did have to give up some good players, like Allen. (Man, I would have loved to seen him here)

 

I agree that they could have kept him for the season but the rumors he was none to pleased with the Metcalf signing. He is a loose cannon who might holdout ect who knows. Another diva head case that Bags Tomlin failed on.

During the draft Jerra offered a 4th which they declined.

The eye black patch with the Always Fu%$ing Open rumored to rub Art II wrong. I do feel that he was none to happy and was the catalyst to jettison Pickens.

 

yes - he was not in game shape.

that KID will produce this year, #trust-me

 

This was a solid move. He quit in playoff game last year and did not even try to catch balls thrown his way. We need a rebuild and cut loose diva players who are not that productive. 62 whole catches is not elite

 

He scored a TD in the Super Bowl

 

Some interesting takes. I see both sides, but ultimately am fine with the trade.

Pickens has long been a problem. Frankly, it is what happens when you draft a kid who had known character issues. Play with fire and get burned.

I can get behind the trade versus waiting for a comp pick because there is no guarantee we would have gotten a 3rd round comp pick. In our current situation, we get a 3rd a year earlier and have a pick swap.

 

JuJu had 900 yards one year with the Chiefs.

 

I think the point is he wasn’t a major piece in their victory. AB had 22 yards and a TD in that Super Bowl.