Steelers' George Pickens Called Out By Team Insider For "Baggage" That Comes With Him

The Pittsburgh Steelers have a daunting 2025 offseason ahead. The quarterback, wide receiver, running back, defensive line and cornerback positions are all far from complete, which is not ideal given the current state of the AFC. It's going to take the trio of free agency, trade market and NFL Draft to turn the franchise into a legitimate competitor. The offense remained inconsistent in 2024 and it doesn't help when the best play-maker in the group has had his fair share of attitude issues. George Pickens very well may have lost his opportunity to earn a second contract in the Steel City.

Wide receiver is not the only area in which the Steelers need to improve, but the room has a significant lack of talent, even with Pickens on the roster. If the decision is made to trade him, or if he holds out waiting for a fresh contract, the offense could be put in a compromising situation. There is a lot of speculation and plenty of question marks surrounding Pittsburgh as the new league year in March approaches.

In a Tuesday chat with fans, Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette fielded questions regarding the state of the organization. Someone asked how far the team is from truly competing. Fittipaldo isn't all that confident, and there was a slight jab at Pickens in his response.

"QB obviously. They need a legit No. 1 receiver without baggage and another good WR on top of that," Fittipaldo wrote. "They need the offensive line to gel. They need at least one and maybe two good defensive linemen. And they need a CB opposite Porter. Is that far away?"

The first thing that pops out is the notion that the Steelers need to correct a whole bunch of problems before thinking about winning several playoff games in a row. The other piece to Fittipaldo's thoughts are his clear belief that Pittsburgh doesn't just need help in the wide receiving corps, but also needs a top contributor that isn't Pickens. Fans have come accustomed to his outstanding athleticism, but it appears he is losing credibility year-in and year-out.

The Steelers have dug themselves quite the hole at wide receiver. Pickens is absolutely a distraction and no one can argue that, but it was clear that when he was out of the lineup due to injury in 2024, the offense got significantly worse. The team doesn't just have to find a way to replace his talent, but add even more around a top newcomer. Outside of Pickens, there was a lot left to be desired besides a couple of promising moments from Calvin Austin III.

This entire situation leaves the front office with difficult decisions to make regarding the position. It is not clear whether or not the organization will attempt to shop Pickens, but it's unlikely that it happens early on in the offseason unless a high-profile free agent is signed. Even then, it's hard to part ways with someone as talented as Pickens. Unfortunately, Fittipaldo has observed that there is too much baggage that comes along with Pickens, and the reporter is probably right.

Pittsburgh has not been afraid to move on from problematic receivers in the past, but in those cases, there was a clear-cut replacement for the top spot. That can't necessarily be said for the Steelers in 2025, making the situation all the more complicated.

Steelers Need To Load Up Offense With Top Talent In 2025 And Beyond

It's hard to win with just defense in today's NFL. Having an offensive unit with play-makers everywhere is crucial, but the idea that a group can succeed with only one extremely talented individual isn't valid. Pittsburgh, with or without Pickens, will need to revamp a collective that needs to have more firepower. If the front office does move on from Pickens, it removes a headache in the locker room, but adds to the pressure of putting together a solidified offense.

Do you think that Pickens will be a member of the Steelers once the 2025 regular season begins? Let us know in the comments below!

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