The Pittsburgh Steelers have had to answer for the maturity level of George Pickens, who seems to have frequent outbursts. They especially seem to come out during, or after losses, as he still struggles with controlling his emotions. Those issues, combined with his elite talent and expiring contract, have made him appear to be a potential trade candidate. The draft process could help determine his fate, but he could realistically be shipped out of town any time between now and the 2025 trade deadline.
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Steelers' George Pickens celebrates with his teammates after a big time touchdown against the Browns in Cleveland.
Not everyone sees it that way, however. His father, George Pickens Sr., took to X to praise his son for how he has handled being a Steeler.
Food for Thought: GP has played with 1 Tribusky, 2 Pickett, 3 Rodolph, 4 Wilson, 5 Fields, 6 ????. All in 3 years. I can appreciate your sanity #14.
— George Pickens # GP3 (@George33101361) March 19, 2025
The Steelers have been stuck in quarterback purgatory ever since Pickens was drafted, and their pick before selecting him (Kenny Pickett) was a passer that got traded after just two seasons with the team. While Mason Rudolph may be back for another ride, questions remain on if he'll actually be the starter in 2025.
The team has been criticized at every turn, as numerous players have taken shots at the franchise once they got to speak to the media. Now, they have the father of a current player adding fuel to the fire, as he believes Pickens has actually handled the entire situation well, even if many fans and coaches say otherwise.
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Steelers wideout George Pickens watches from the sideline with Head Coach Mike Tomlin out in front of him.
It's no secret that the Steelers are seemingly panicking at this stage of the offseason. There were very few quality quarterbacks available in free agency, and most of them have already found new homes. Meanwhile, all they've done is re-sign one of their former signal-callers to start one season just in case their last-ditch effort to sign Aaron Rodgers also fails.
There appears to be no light at the end of the tunnel. Even though Rudolph was signed to a two-year contract, he is not expected to be the Steelers' starter in 2026, and if that happens, then the team failed at yet another offseason regarding the quarterback position. They can't expect to ever make progress with short-term trials with veteran passers.
Steelers Reunite Pickens With Quarterback That Gave Him His Best Run
At very least, Rudolph is a great fit for the current receiving core. He and Pickens made magic at the end of the 2023 season, including a game where he averaged nearly 50 yards per reception to go along with a pair of touchdowns. A deep-ball passer combined with a deep-ball wideout is expected to make quite a few big plays.
Associated Presss
George Pickens runs after catching a pass from Mason Rudolph during a 2023 Pittsburgh Steelers game against the Bengals.
While Rudolph was also the starter in a game that Pickens had no receptions in that season, he still took the time to praise the young receiver for blocking and being an overall team-first player. He took every chance to make sure Pickens knew he was appreciated, even if his dad doesn't appreciate Rudolph enough to spell his name correctly in his tweet.
There may be questions about Pickens being a malcontent on the team, but Senior is clearly the one that is actually upset at the organization. The lack of assurance at the quarterback position combined with having five separate starters in a two-year span is something that is expected from a team like the Cleveland Browns, as opposed to a franchise that is trying to win playoff games and continue to be the poster child for stability like they want to be.
What do you think about Pickens Sr. sticking up for his son while taking shots at the Steelers for their quarterback carousel? Let us know in the comments or on X at @Steelers_ChrisB.
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