On Wednesday morning, the Pittsburgh Steelers decided to trade away their 24-year-old wide receiver George Pickens. The move surprised many, but it was clear the Steelers had no plans to keep Pickens beyond the 2025 season. With his contract situation looming and no extension in sight, Pittsburgh saw this as its best chance to get value in return before losing him for nothing.
Shortly after the trade, NFL insider Ian Rapoport went on television and shared that he fully expects the Steelers to make a move to replace Pickens. With training camp getting closer and the regular season on the horizon, Pittsburgh is officially in the market for a wide receiver. The urgency to find a new playmaker is real, and the front office is expected to be aggressive.
Last month, superstar wide receiver Tyreek Hill posted a cryptic message on social media that resurfaced this Wednesday following the Pickens trade. While Hill didn’t mention any teams, the timing of the post being brought back to light caught the attention of many. With the Steelers now needing a dynamic wideout and Hill possibly hinting at a desire for change, speculation is heating up that Pittsburgh could make a bold move to bring the explosive receiver to town.
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— Ty Hill (@cheetah) April 7, 2025
The first thing to remember about Hill is that he’s been sending mixed signals all offseason. After the Miami Dolphins’ disappointing end to the 2024 season, Hill made a strange comment suggesting he was "out," which raised eyebrows across the league.
“Hey, Cheetah. You done?” - Jaylen Waddle
— Joe Schad (@schadjoe) January 9, 2025
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Frustration boiled over, and according to some reports, Hill even appeared to quit on his team during a crucial game. A viral clip shared on social media showed teammate Jaylen Waddle visibly shocked as Hill seemingly pulled himself out mid-game.
The 31-year-old wide receiver isn’t entirely happy with his current situation. While he eventually walked back his comments about wanting to leave Miami, he’s continued to post cryptic messages every few months, keeping the speculation alive. His latest message — a peace sign emoji — could mean many things. However, with the Steelers now needing an explosive playmaker, Hill would make some sense for the Steelers.
Could Steelers GM Omar Khan be plotting something bold? With DK Metcalf already acquired via trade and Pickens out of the picture, Pittsburgh is still in the market for another top-tier wide receiver. Pairing Metcalf with Hill would give the Steelers one of the most explosive receiving duos in the league. If Hill truly wants to leave Miami, Pittsburgh might be ready to give him a fresh start.
Whether Hill is worth pursuing almost sounds silly when you remember that just a season ago, he was voted the best player in the NFL. His 2024 season may have changed some perceptions, as a few NFL fans began to write him off after a stretch of underwhelming performances. However, the reality is that Miami’s quarterback situation was a mess following Tua Tagovailoa’s concussion issues, and Hill himself was battling through injuries. Both played a significant role in a "down" year.
Even with poor quarterback play and nagging injuries, Hill still managed to post 81 catches for 959 yards and six touchdowns. Those numbers would be a strong season for most receivers — Hill set the bar higher. They should explore if the Steelers have a legitimate shot at acquiring him. Of course, the price tag in terms of both trade compensation and salary would be a factor, but that’s the cost of adding a game-changer.
The Steelers are clearly in the market for more help at wide receiver, and Hill’s name could resurface in trade talks soon. If Khan has proven anything, he isn’t afraid to make bold, aggressive moves. Another blockbuster deal might not be far off — and Hill could be the next star brought to Pittsburgh.
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