Steelers Delivered A Strong Message To The Polarizing George Pickens On Draft Weekend

The Pittsburgh Steelers had a lot of questions about the roster heading into the 2025 NFL Draft, but fans should have a better idea of what the roster is going to look like for the 2025 season. The organization has been pummeled with questions about the quarterback room throughout the 2025 offseason, and the Steelers addressed the position on Saturday by selecting Will Howard in the sixth round. The Steelers also gave away some insight on a position that they did not show attention to during the event.

The 2025 NFL Draft was focused a lot on defense as the organization used five of its seven selections on that side of the ball. Howard and running back Kaleb Johnson were the only two players picked for the offense as the team did not select any new wide receivers. 

With George Pickens entering the final season of his rookie contract, and the trade rumors surrounding him, it seems like what Pittsburgh decided to do at wide receiver during the 2025 NFL Draft would be a good indicator of his future. Also, the fact he made it through the draft without being traded fro additional capital is a good sign.

Pickens will probably not get moved prior to the 2025 season, and this leaves the door open for him and the Steelers to work together on an extension. A large portion of the fan base doesn't believe that is a possibility after the organization traded for DK Metcalf and gave him a lucrative deal. Not many teams pay a ton of money to two separate receivers, so it will be interesting to see how Pickens is handled moving forward.

While paying two receivers big money isn't normal, especially in Pittsburgh, it could become a possibility due to the way the league is trending. The NFL is now an offensive league, which means weapons are needed in order to be successful. Pittsburgh is trying to adapt to this way of thinking which is shown by the franchise's acquisition of Metcalf.

After trading for Metcalf the organization signed him to a four-year contract extension worth $132 million, which might make it hard for the organization to dignify paying Pickens. If an extension were to come for the fourth-year wide receiver, it would come much closer to the season. 

Pittsburgh usually gets its contractual business done in August during training camp. If a deal doesn't get done prior to the regular season starting, the organization would have to attempt to sign him ahead of free agency during the 2026 offseason as the franchise doesn't conduct contractual business during the season.

Pickens' market value is expected to be roughly $23 million per season, and currently Spotrac projects that he will sign a four-year deal worth $94 million. The cap continues to rise significantly every season, so there is a possibility that the organization decides a deal like this would be best in the long run.

Steelers Could Be More Likely To Give Calvin Austin III An Extension

Calvin Austin III is another wide receiver on the Steelers roster, and the team picked him in the fourth round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Like Pickens, Austin is entering his fourth season and the final year of his rookie deal. He missed his entire rookie season in 2022 due to an injury he suffered in training camp, but he has shown promising signs in both 2023 and 2024. The receiver recorded over 500 yards and four touchdowns in 2024.

Austin serves a different role than Pickens. He has been effective from the slot, but can also be a gadget player and be effective as a returner on special teams. His current market value is considered to be somewhere in the $7-$10 million range, and he could sign a two or three-year deal that reflects that. He has gotten better in every season, and opting to extend him rather than Pickens might be the smarter move. The organization could then target a top wide receiver in the NFL Draft to replace Pickens.

What do you think about Pickens' future in Pittsburgh? Let us know in the comments below!

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