Steelers' George Pickens Seemingly Sends Strong But Simple Message To Pittsburgh's Front Office On Social Media

The Pittsburgh Steelers made the NFL world go crazy on Sunday night when the decision was made by General Manager Omar Khan to trade with the Seattle Seahawks for wide receiver DK Metcalf. As if the move wasn't enough, the organization is giving him a new contract that is worth $150 million over five years. Many have speculated what this means for 2022 second-round pick George Pickens. The team could simply have him play out the final year of his rookie deal and allow him to test free agency, but trading him, or offering him an extension are also options that remain.

Deals are being agreed to across the NFL landscape and one in particular seemed to catch the eye of Pickens. The Carolina Panthers inked one of their own to a massive deal. Jaycee Horn became a very rich man.

Pickens took to his Instagram on Monday to congratulate Horn, but that wasn't all that stood out about what he uploaded to his story. It seemed as if the wide receiver was acknowledging that it must have been nice for the team that drafted Horn to reward him.

"This what should happened when ya stay down with ya unit. Congrats my boy," Pickens wrote.

Players across all sports occasionally post cryptic messages on social media. While Pickens' post to his Horn was congratulating another individual in the league, it also sure seemed as if he would like to be extended by Pittsburgh. This reality has become more unlikely now that Metcalf is in the fold with a deal that averages $30 million per season.

Horn was drafted by the Panthers in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft and had his fifth-year option picked up for the 2025 season. Instead of letting him play on that final year of his rookie contract, Carolina gave him a lucrative extension. Pickens is in a similar situation, as his fourth and final year of his rookie deal will be in 2025, which normally would set someone up for an extension prior to the regular season beginning.

Pickens has caused a little bit of drama in the Steel City, at least that's how the outside world looks at the situation. His questionable locker room behavior and often pouting on the sidelines have rubbed many the wrong way. He is a competitor, but some have theorized that the Steelers will trade him because of what has occurred in recent years. The Metcalf deal only fueled the fire even more.

Congratulating Horn is one thing, and admirable, but Pickens specifically saying that he believes what happened for Horn should happen to those who remain loyal to the teams that drafted them is an interesting comment. This came less than 24 hours after the Metcalf deal, which could absolutely have some people thinking that Pickens wanted an extension in Pittsburgh, but now won't get one.

The combination Pickens and Metcalf could be lethal moving forward, but there are certainly concerns with the attitudes of the two receivers. It will be imperative to set both up for success so one of the two, or both, aren't causing significant distractions on and off the field.

Steelers' Next Move With George Pickens Is Anyone's Guess

Pittsburgh has every option on the table when it comes to Pickens. The subtle message he sent via Instagram on Monday could help shed a little bit of light on how he's feeling about the Metcalf situation. Pickens has been in the Steel City since 2022, but another talented receiver comes out of nowhere via trade to land a massive contract. Anyone could see how that might rub Pickens the wrong way.

Do you think that Pickens was sending a little message to the Steelers? Let us know in the comments below!

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