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Pittsburgh Steelers star wide receiver George Pickens is entering the final year of his rookie deal. That means after the 2025 NFL season, Pickens is set to become a free agent. The Steelers will have a major decision to make, especially with $30 million per year already committed to DK Metcalf. While the Pickens-Metcalf pairing doesn’t quite rival the Cincinnati Bengals’ dynamic duo of Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, it’s certainly one of the more intriguing wide receiver tandems in the NFL.
With the draft approaching, speculation is swirling around Pickens’ future in Pittsburgh. Some fans wonder if the Steelers could move him on draft night, especially if they’re unsure about a long-term commitment. Others believe the franchise tag is more likely, or that the front office could even work out an extension to lock him in before the 2025 season. While his raw talent is undeniable, concerns about his maturity have led some fans to question whether the team would be better off exploring life without him.
Steelers insider Brooke Pryor added fuel to the conversation during an appearance on 93.7 The Fan, saying she still believes an extension could happen sooner rather than later. If the Steelers were to finalize a deal before the season kicks off, it would come as a surprise to many who view Pickens as a potential trade chip or franchise tag candidate. Either way, Pickens’ future will be one of the biggest storylines to watch in Pittsburgh heading into the 2025 campaign and after.
"The closer we get to the draft, the more likely it continues to be that they [Steelers] work out an extension with George Pickens, or that's the route that they take," Pryor said. "So I get the sense that it's still continuing to trend towards an extension, but crazier things have happened. We have seen them happen. But at this point, that's where it feels like things are going."
Pryor is as connected to the Steelers as any insider covering the team. She does excellent work for ESPN and, based on both what she’s heard and what she’s seen, Pryor believes a deal to extend Pickens will get done sooner rather than later.
If the Steelers commit to extending Pickens, it would mean investing significant money at the wide receiver position. However, in an ultra-competitive AFC North loaded with offensive firepower, that might be exactly what Pittsburgh feels it should—or needs—to do.
Steelers' George Pickens' Future Still Not Certain
Pickens is a tremendous talent. Despite operating in a historically bad offensive system that rarely played to his strengths, he’s consistently produced when given opportunities. While he’s had some tough moments—especially in primetime games where his frustration has occasionally boiled over—there’s no denying his upside. When he’s locked in, Pickens is arguably one of the most talented receivers in the league.
Streets are still wondering how George Pickens made this catch #PITvsCLE – Thursday 8:15pm ET on Prime Video
— NFL (@NFL) November 20, 2024
Also streaming on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/OvKIa7TaBS
Letting Pickens walk would leave a notable gap at wide receiver—one the Steelers could potentially fill—but it would also save them a lot of money. If Pittsburgh is leaning toward moving on, trading him would be the smart play. It ensures they get something in return rather than allowing a premier talent to leave for nothing.
The idea of Pickens and Metcalf on the outside, with Pat Freiermuth working the middle and Roman Wilson or Calvin Austin III battling for snaps in the slot, paints a picture of an offense loaded with firepower and mismatches. If the Steelers can find a way to keep Pickens in the fold, this unit has the potential to be lethal for years to come—assuming they can finally figure out the quarterback position.
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Browns make curious decision with rookie QB Shedeur Sanders
The Cleveland Browns are giving Shedeur Sanders special treatment in training camp, but it's not the type of favoritism the fifth-round pick would necessarily want. Per Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN, Sanders is the only Browns quarterback who has not been taking reps with the first-team offense during OTAs or the first two practices of training camp. Former Pittsburgh Steelers first-round pick Kenny Pickett, veteran Joe Flacco and rookie Dillon Gabriel have all split reps with the first team. Despite being asked to throw passes to members of the equipment staff amid a shortage of professional pass-catchers for a four-quarterback roster, Sanders said he's thankful for the opportunity to show the Browns coaching staff his talents. "I feel like that it's not in my control, so I'm not going to think about that or even have that in my thought process of why it is," Sanders said to a question as to why he's not getting first-team reps. "There's a lot of people who want to have the opportunity to be at this level, and I'm here and I'm thankful to have the opportunity. So, whenever that is, that is." Sanders, 23, believes that he can contribute more to the Browns than what the coaching staff is asking of him. "It doesn't make me feel down or left out because I know who I am as a person," Sanders said. "I know who I am as an individual and I know what I could bring to this team. So, I can never feel less than any circumstance." The Browns selected Sanders with the No. 144 pick in April's draft. As a player whom many draft analysts thought was a first-round talent, Cleveland took what could be the steal of the draft in the fifth round. It's curious why the Browns aren't giving Sanders a shot with the first team early in training camp before the quarterback race becomes more serious. Cleveland should absolutely see what Sanders has to offer this summer. Flacco, 40, isn't a long-term solution at the position. Pickett failed in Pittsburgh. The Browns need to gauge what rookies Gabriel and Sanders can do with the first team. Having Sanders throw balls to the equipment staff is a waste of everyone's time. But then again, Cleveland has wasted plenty of quarterbacks.
Lakers Pegged as Landing Spot for Ex-Celtics Guard Named Top Free Agency 'Steal'
The Los Angeles Lakers are working on building a contender around last season's blockbuster addition of Luka Doncic, and could have their eyes on a player named the biggest "steal" of free agency. James Herbert of CBS Sports noted that former Boston Celtics star Malcolm Brogdon is still looking for his next NBA home and could be a bargain for a team that lands him. "After a couple of years in Portland and Washington, it feels like it's time for the veteran guard to get back on a winning team," Herbert wrote. "If healthy, he could be a real bargain for a contender -- it was only two years ago that he won Sixth Man of the Year in Boston." Bleacher Report's Timothy Rapp named the Lakers as a team to watch for Brogdon, who has shared his admiration for Lakers star LeBron James in the past. Speaking to Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson, the former NBA Rookie of the Year said he believes James is the greatest of all time and disagrees with those who use his longevity as an argument against him. “At 40, I think that LeBron is playing at a higher level, but I think medicine and I think science has come a long way,” Brogdon said. “But I think also longevity has to be counted for LeBron. He’s the first player in this game to have longevity that is counted against him, you know? It’s one of his downfalls.” Brodgon was a solid contributor for the Washington Wizards last season, scoring 12.7 points with 3.8 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game.
Cleveland Guardians Slapped With Bad News Before Trade Deadline
The Cleveland Guardians are quite a mystery heading into the MLB trade deadline, as no one seems to know whether they will buy, sell or possibly even do nothing before July 31. The Guardians are hovering around .500, but they are still smack dab in the middle of the American League Wild Card race. That's in spite of losing 10 straight just before the All-Star break. Even with Cleveland remaining in contention, there are some who believe the Guardians might sell given their conservative nature, but talk show host Bruce Drennan has provided some rather bad news for the team in that regard: the players they might want to move don't have much value. “No top prospects for a big bat, and I don’t necessarily see us selling players, like Carlos Santana or Lane Thomas. What can you get in return?” Drennan said. Drennan has a point. Santana and Thomas are both impending free agents, and neither has been all that good this season. Santana owns a .665 OPS, and Thomas has been on and off the injured list while hitting just .160 on the year. Of course, the Guardians would surely be able to land a hefty return for players like Steven Kwan and Emmanuel Clase, but it does not seem like Cleveland is going to move either of those two stars. Perhaps the Guardians will surprise some people and go all in by adding pieces at the deadline, but that isn't exactly in their nature. We'll see what happens before the end of the months, but it stands to reason that Cleveland might just stand pat, as Drennan anticipates. Read More Cleveland Guardians Coverage
Important trade stalls as Maple Leafs dangle bottom-six forward
The Toronto Maple Leafs are still looking for a solution to their bottom-six surplus, and veteran forward Calle Jarnkrok remains at the center of trade discussions. However, according to The Fourth Period, trade talks surrounding the 33-year-old winger have failed to gain momentum. They write: “He has a $2.1M cap hit and owns a 10-team no-trade list. The market hasn’t been vibrant, to this point, but the Leafs will continue to dangle him.” Why can’t the Maple Leafs find a taker for Jarnkrok? Jarnkrok has quietly been on the trade block for much of the offseason, but general manager Brad Treliving has yet to find a taker. After adding several depth forwards this summer, the Leafs now face a crowded bottom six — and Jarnkrok’s age, injury history and $2.1M cap hit through 2025–26 aren’t helping his value. Since joining Toronto, Jarnkrok has appeared in only 71 games over two seasons, scoring a modest 28 points. While his defensive versatility and penalty-killing ability are assets, his declining offensive production and durability concerns have made teams wary. With training camp approaching, the Maple Leafs may be forced to keep Jarnkrok on the roster — or retain salary in a deal — if they want to create space and flexibility. Dropping his cap hit down to just over $1M would open up the market a little. Until then, the Swedish forward remains a trade candidate in limbo. This isn’t great news as moving Jarnkrok from the roster is an important item on the team’s to-do list. Treliving would like more cap space, and with Jarnkrok and David Kampf both still on the roster, it hampers the GM’s ability to do other things.
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