Could Steelers' Second-Year Phenom George Pickens Surpass Diontae Johnson As The WR1 In 2023?

The Pittsburgh Steelers' selection of George Pickens in the 2022 NFL Draft is one that has the ability to change the offense for the next decade plus. Widely regarded as one of the most talented pass catchers in the 2022 Draft class, Pickens fortunately fell to the Steelers with their second-round selection. There was no denying his ability as a football player, but many teams had concerns regarding his maturity level and viewed him as more of a "project pick" than an immediate contributor. 

Ultimately, not only did Pickens immediately make an impact on the Steelers' offense, he cemented himself as the most dangerous deep play threats for fellow 2022 NFL Draft pick and starting quarterback, Kenny Pickett. While most would consider fellow wide receiver Diontae Johnson as the "WR1" in Pittsburgh, it may only be a matter of time before #14 takes over the crown. There is no telling how high the ceiling can go for Pickens in 2023. Steelers' fans, get used to the "Pickett to Pickens" era as these two are poised to become one of the best duos in the NFL. 

George Pickens is far from a finished product in terms of becoming a well-rounded NFL wide receiver. His route tree in 2022 was comprised of mostly go-routes and he played almost exclusively outside the numbers. Part of this has to do with Pickens' acclimating himself to the NFL, however, some of the blame also has to fall to Steelers' offensive coordinator, Matt Canada for his inability to create mismatches for opposing defenses.

Optimistically speaking, Canada will implement play calls in which Pickens' route tree can expand as well line him up in the slot wide receiver position. If done correctly, there is no doubt that Pickens will improve his statistics from his rookie campaign where he grabbed 51 receptions for 801 yards and five total touchdowns. 

Does George Pickens Have What It Takes To Be The Next Great Wide Receiver For The Steelers?

During his rookie season in Pittsburgh, Pickens' talent was clearly evident from the start of training camp. During his first-ever professional game against the Seattle Seahawks in the preseason, Pickens hauled in a seemingly improbable throw from quarterback Mason Rudolph for a 26-yard touchdown. It was at this moment that Steelers' fans knew they had found an absolute stud in Pickens. From there, he continued to impress his teammates, perhaps most notably All-Pro outside linebacker, TJ Watt. During a February interview with NBC Sports Insider, Peter King, Watt had this to offer regarding Pickens' first year as a Steeler:

"George Pickens is one of those guys who I don't know if he really understands how good he is. Some of the things that you see in practice. It's all the little things like finishing plays and running, he can run for days," described Watt.  

Watt also mentioned the maturation of Kenny Pickett's leadership ability during the 2022 season. He talked about how Pickett showed encouraging signs of progression throughout the year, ultimately culminating in the Steelers' Week 17 win against the rival Baltimore Ravens where Pickett lead the team on a fourth-quarter, game-winning drive to win the contest by a score of 16-13.