Insider Reveals Steelers Player That Would Likely Be Shopped First During 2025 NFL Draft

The Pittsburgh Steelers have to have a busy 2025 offseason if the plan is going to be for the organization to compete for a Super Bowl in the near future. It almost seems as if the team has taken a step back in recent years, even after several aggressive moves in free agency and the draft. One of the more concerning areas on offense, besides quarterback, is at wide receiver. George Pickens is as talented as they come, but proved in 2024, yet again, that he has not taken a step forward in regards to his maturity. He may not be in the Steel City for much longer.

Some looking on in from the outside might label it foolish for the Steelers to trade Pickens, especially given the current state of the wide receiving corps. This simple fact may hint at the notion that any trade involving the young wideout will likely come well into the offseason, rather than in the beginning of the new league year when it kicks off in mid-March.

Pittsburgh will want to see how free agency, and potentially the trade market, goes before making any firm decision on Pickens' future. Something that should immediately come to mind is draft day. How the board falls, and how General Manager Omar Khan feels about the receiving group at that moment in time, could determine Pickens' fate.

In a fan chat on Thursday, team insider Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette fielded several questions about the wide receiver. Someone asked the reporter about a draft day scenario that had a team calling about which players and/or positions the Steelers would be open to moving on from. No one else came to mind in the moment for Dulac except one individual.

"I think the list would start with George Pickens," Dulac wrote.

There is a growing belief in the Steel City that Pickens may indeed be on his way out. The organization hasn't wasted time parting ways with disgruntled wideouts in the past, regardless of how talented they may have been. If history does repeat itself, Pickens will be wearing a different colored jersey come the 2025 regular season. It truly doesn't appear as if he has matured much throughout his professional career.

It would be rather shocking if the Steelers showed their cards and shopped Pickens immediately as the new league year began. It would be the smartest decision to see how free agency goes for teams around the league because, at that point, an organization out there may be rather desperate for a player that has the talent Pickens possesses.

The other interesting piece to the puzzle is the compensation. While incredibly talented, Pickens has proven that he is capable of being coached. Despite that, Dulac noted what his expectation would be if teams do start calling about Pickens.

"A second and a 4th?" Dulac answered.

The question mark at the end hints at the fact that Dulac can't quite put a number on what the pass-catcher is worth from a compensation perspective. The locker room troubles he has had in the Steel City won't exactly inspire confidence in other general managers. This could lead to some trouble for Khan when and if he is negotiating any kind of trade involving Pickens.

Steelers Need An Offensive Overhaul At Wide Receiver With Or Without Pickens

Even if Pittsburgh decides to keep Pickens around, there is no guarantee that the offense will magically begin clicking in 2025. More play-makers will be needed, and specifically to enhance the passing game, regardless of who is the quarterback. The franchise is falling behind the expectations in the modern NFL each year, and needs to catch up quickly. Two, or even three, dynamic wide receivers is something that needs to be a priority for the team throughout the offseason.

Do you think that Pickens has played his last down of football for the Steelers? What would be acceptable trade compensation for him? Let us know in the comments below!

#SteelerNation