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Former Steelers wide receiver believes Pittsburgh botched the George Pickens trade after comparing him and DK Metcalf

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Rob Gregson | Last updated May 13, 2025 11:49 AM ET

DK Metcalf and George Pickens were supposed to be Batman & Robin for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

That never happened, as the team traded the latter before he and Metcalf could even be in the same room.

According to former Steelers wide receiver Plaxico Burress, however, that was a bad idea because Pickens is better than Metcalf...

George Pickens better than DK Metcalf?

“How this hurts the Pittsburgh Steelers, they didn’t get any better," said Buress. "I don’t believe, when it comes down to playing the position and playing the game of football, that DK Metcalf is a better wide receiver than George Pickens. I would not agree to that. We know that George Pickens, when he’s playing and he’s focused, he’s one of the top five ball players at the position. There’s no dispute in that. There’s no doubt about it, but we got to get the young man focused so he can reach his full potential and become one of these elite wide receivers in all of football."

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I tend to agree that if and when Pickens straightens up and gets his head on straight, he will be an elite talent and one of the best at his position. But the fact that he's played with the Steeles for three years, and we are still waiting for his maturity issues to cease...That's precisely why he was traded.

Sure, DK Metcalf is no Boy Scout. He's been the most penalized player in the NFL, he runs hot and cold at times and he's got a short fuse between the white lines. But not only has he produced more on average in terms of receptions, receiving yards, and touchdowns, and is a Pro Bowler, but he also doesn't show up late to everything, routinely lack effort, and turn off his teammates.

So while no one was a bigger fan of Pickens in Pittsburgh than me, and I still think the timing of the trade was horrid , DK Metcalf is cleary the better player. The Steelers wouldn't have paid him top-five money at the position if he wasn't, while Pickens plays out the final year of his rookie deal with the Dallas Cowboys.