The Green Bay Packers were in the conversations to trade for DK Metcalf before the Pittsburgh Steelers acquired him for a second-round pick. And while general manager Brian Gutekunst wasn’t willing to give up so much for Metcalf, that trade might shape a follow-up move to give quarterback Jordan Love a big-time offensive weapon.
According to Fox Sports’ NFL insider Jordan Schultz, the Steelers are open to trading fourth-year veteran wide receiver George Pickens, who is now eligible to receive a contract extension. And the Packers might, once again, be in the mix.
0:06 / 2:51 3 Players The Steelers Could Draft, That NO ONE Is Talking About…3 Players The Steelers Could Draft, That NO ONE Is Talking About…
‘George Pickens is one intriguing trade name to watch. Pittsburgh has taken and made calls on the talented WR, who’s now extension-eligible. After paying Metcalf, league sources are skeptical the Steelers will pay two receivers.
“It’s just not in their DNA to spend that much on two wideouts,” the AFC GM said. “Pickens is more available than people think. Green Bay’s been serious, and they’re not the only ones.”‘ — Jordan Schultz.
Pickens was the 52nd overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. At that time, the Packers gave up picks 53 and 59 to move up to 34 and select fellow wide receiver Christian Watson. Throughout their first three seasons in the league, Pickens has been more prolific, with 174 receptions for 2,841 yards and 12 touchdowns, while Watson has 98 catches for 1,653 yards and 14 touchdowns.
Why the Steelers are considering a trade
George Pickens is one of the most dynamic wide receivers in the league, has produced a series of modest at best quarterbacks and just turned 24 years old. So why is his name involved in trade rumors? Simple: Character.
Pickens was off teams’ boards when he came out of Georgia in 2022. The Steelers have a history of not only taking characters at the WR position but making them work. George Pickens has tested their patience.
Consistently late to team meetings, questionable effort in practice and during games, repeatedly being fined for in-game antics, even holding up team charters. You name it and he’s probably done it. And if Pittsburgh says he’s not worth the headache, a franchise that deals with Antonio Brown, Le’Veon Bell, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Chase Claypool and many more, it’s bad.
And that’s probably a big reason why the Packers passed on him in the draft three years ago.
The Steelers would have hoped that the maturity clicked in by now, but head coach Mike Tomlin literally said after a game last season that Pickens “needs to grow up.” Maybe a change of scenery makes him realize that.
Draft compensation
The Packers could have been involved in the discussions, but the big point for the Steelers now is that most interested teams are willing to offer a fourth-round pick at most. Sources say that they would be shocked if Pickens was dealt for less than a Day 2 pick, so the Packers would probably have to give up a third-rounder, pick 87, to make it happen.
If the best offer is a fourth-rounder, the Steelers could just keep Pickens for the last year of his rookie contract, and see if a camp injury or mid-season need pops up around the trade deadline—worst-case scenario for Pittsburgh, they could be in line to receive a compensatory pick if he leaves in free agency next offseason.
For the Packers, sending a third-round pick wouldn’t necessarily be a deal-breaker, but the combination of giving up a mid-round selection plus probably being forced to agree to an extension makes the situation more complicated.
“When you trade a high pick for a veteran player, you’re trading a young, really good contract for a player who’s proven, but probably expensive, so you’re giving up a pick and salary cap space. You gotta weigh that,” Brian Gutekunst said after the season. “If it’s the right player, if you can feel he can be a dynamic player that can change your football team, you gotta consider that, because there’s not many of those guys out there. But you also have to understand what you’re giving up.”
Financial implications
If the Packers trade for George Pickens, they would immediately absorb $3.656 million in salary for the final year of his rookie contract. The Steelers would have $522k in dead money, the proration of his original signing bonus.
However, a contract extension would most likely have to be tied to the trade. Executing this type of move without a new deal in place would give the player complete leverage to negotiate later.
The Packers could be comfortable paying him, because Watson and Romeo Doubs are both slated to be free agents—and it’s fair to think that they budgeted paying at least one of their receivers drafted in 2022. But the locker room issues are what might make this trade out of the realm of possibilities for Green Bay.