Steelers Absolutely Need To Find A Number 2 WR To Avoid Future Headaches From George Pickens

The Pittsburgh Steelers endured through the ups and downs of George Pickens during the 2023 season. The uber-talented pass-catcher arrived from the University of Georgia with character concerns via a second-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft and delivered his first 1,000-receiving-yard season in 2023. It didn't come without some controversies, however. From his social media antics to not blocking on a play that could've resulted in a touchdown for running back, Jaylen Warren, Pickens found ways to get in the headlines for all the wrong reasons. If Pittsburgh is going to avoid more frustration from him, then solving the lack of a true number two receiver on the roster must be a huge priority. 

Mark Kaboly, the Steelers insider for The Athletic, joined The Fan Morning Show on Thursday to chat about the upcoming 2024 NFL Draft and what the team is looking to do. After trading Diontae Johnson to the Carolina Panthers, the organization left a big hole on the wide receiver depth chart. Kaboly thinks that could cause issues for Pickens, if not addressed properly. 

"I don't want to see George Pickens doubled every single time and that's what going to happen," he said. "I don’t care if Quez Watkins, Marquez Callaway, Van Jefferson, Calvin Austin III, Cordarelle Patterson, or whoever is out there, they’re going to double George Pickens. Pickens is not going to get the ball and it’s going to cause problems. They need someone to step up as a number two to prevent that from happening." 

As Kaboly points out, the team has added bodies to the wide receiver room in the 2024 offseason, but none of them scream out that they can be a number two receiver that opponents will have to devote attention to. Van Jefferson posted a career year in 2021 with 802 receiving yards and six touchdowns when the Los Angeles Rams made a run to the Super Bowl. In the following two seasons, split between the Rams and the Atlanta Falcons, he had a total of three touchdowns and 578 receiving yards. 

Calvin Austin III and Quez Watkins have blazing speed that they have used in spades to scare defenses, but neither has been consistent enough to count on. Watkins fell out of favor with the Philadelphia Eagles, as he suffered from issues with holding onto the football. Austin caught a touchdown in the regular season and the playoffs against the Buffalo Bills, but was largely a non-factor for the team in 2023. 72 of his 180 receiving yards came on the score against the Las Vegas Raiders. 

Marquez Callaway had 698 receiving yards with the New Orleans Saints in the 2021 season, but has fallen off the map since. He signed with the Denver Broncos before the 2023 season, but didn't make the 53-man roster. He was briefly on the Raiders' practice squad before rejoining the Saints. Pittsburgh signed him to a reserve/ futures contract in January of 2024. 

Has Steelers' Pickens Turned Over A New Leaf?

While Pittsburgh dealt with headaches with Pickens early on in the season, it might've gotten better later on. Pickens stepped up as a player and teammate in the latter stages of the season. He made a big block against the Seattle Seahawks that helped spring Warren for a touchdown, and the running back gave him props. He didn't have a single reception against the Baltimore Ravens, in a crucial must-win Week 18 game, and former Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph commended him for taking it in stride.

The other part of the equation is the team was winning games at the end of the season, and Pickens was getting the ball a lot. He posted games of 195 yards against the Cincinnati Bengals, and 131 yards against the Seattle Seahawks, in Week 16 and 17 respectively.

Pittsburgh needs to keep Pickens in a good mood, and if Russell Wilson can't get him the ball, that could be a tough ask.

Will Pickens' maturity questions endure in 2024?