Reporter Explains Steelers’ Thought Process In Trading George Pickens

The Pittsburgh Steelers began their offseason with a bang, buying and selling for and lengthening DK Metcalf simply earlier than free company started. A few months later, they moved George Pickens to the Dallas Cowboys, basically changing Pickens with Metcalf of their WR1 function. That was a part of a plan they’d put into place months earlier, in accordance with NFL insider Adam Caplan.

“They [Steelers] decided, on the finish of the 2024 season, that they knew that they weren’t going to increase George Pickens’ contract,” Caplan stated Monday on FOX Sports activities Radio. “There was no method this may work with Pickens, they felt. They usually had been going to maneuver him for no matter they may get, one of the best they may get. And Dallas was very and so they made that work.”

As quickly as Pittsburgh traded for Metcalf, the writing gave the impression to be on the wall for Pickens. He didn’t have probably the most spectacular 2024 season and was changing into extra of a headache for the Steelers. He’s within the final 12 months of his rookie contract, and there didn’t appear to be any plan to maintain him round on an extension. That, plus Metcalf and Pickens having related play kinds, appeared to deliver an finish to Pickens’ time in Pittsburgh.

Caplan suggests the Steelers at all times knew they had been going to maneuver George Pickens for one of the best worth they may get. That tracks with another reporting in regards to the state of affairs. The Cowboys reportedly upped their provide after the draft, after they didn’t discover a receiver of their very own. Then, the Steelers felt like they lastly acquired the worth they needed.

Nevertheless, they discovered Pickens’ alternative lengthy earlier than that commerce was made. Based on Caplan, that’s as a result of they didn’t worth the receivers on this 12 months’s draft a lot.

“They needed to get someone to interchange [Pickens], and so they weren’t gonna anticipate the draft,” Caplan stated. “By the way in which, the phrase across the league was, good receiver draft, not nice. They usually felt like Metcalf was higher than anybody on this draft, and so they is likely to be proper about that, so that they made this transfer.”

If Metcalf works out in Pittsburgh, he’ll be properly definitely worth the second-round decide the Steelers traded for him. This 12 months’s draft class wasn’t particularly spectacular at broad receiver. Metcalf has additionally already confirmed his NFL value for years now. Though they traded for Metcalf earlier than signing Aaron Rodgers, it makes extra sense to have him than a receiver who would want to develop with Rodgers solely being in Pittsburgh for a 12 months.

The writing at all times gave the impression to be on the wall for George Pickens in Pittsburgh. As he heads right into a contract 12 months in Dallas, he’ll hope to show his fame round earlier than hitting free company. For the Steelers, they hope their transfer for Metcalf pays off in the long term.