A new report has emerged offering some context into why the Pittsburgh Steelers were so willing to part ways with wide receiver George Pickens.
The Steelers on Wednesday traded Pickens to the Dallas Cowboys for a relatively modest return. That came as a surprise to some, who felt the Steelers would be better off pairing Pickens with DK Metcalf in 2025 to generate more offense.
It appears, however, that the Steelers largely ran out of patience with Pickens. According to Mike DeFabo of The Athletic, Pickens’ contract situation was a major factor in the trade, as the wide receiver is entering the final year of his rookie deal. However, the team decided not to pursue a new contract with Pickens, making him expendable.
DeFabo notes that the Steelers simply ran out of patience with Pickens, whose disciplinary issues are not a secret. Pickens’ teammates were growing frustrated with the wide receiver and his constant distractions.
“We all know who the problem is,” one offensive player said anonymously following a loss to Dallas last season. During that game, Pickens was spotted wearing controversial eyeblack seemingly hinting at his demand for a greater role in the team’s offense.
Pickens kept causing issues all season. By the end of the season, reports were coming out about his constant tardiness. Steelers coach Mike Tomlin openly called on Pickens to “grow up” toward the end of the season, but that message never landed.
The Steelers have never been shy about taking on mercurial talents. After all, they managed Antonio Brown for years, largely successfully. If they think it’s time to give up on Pickens, that is a fairly worrying sign.
Pickens had 59 catches for 900 yards and 3 touchdowns last season. He can put up numbers, but the Cowboys will have to find a way to keep him in line.
