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Steelers' George Pickens and newly acquired Pro Bowl WR DK Metcalf already have some differences to settle in Pittsburgh

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Rob Gregson | Last updated Mar 10, 2025 10:29 AM ET

The Pittsburgh Steelers quite literally put their money where their mouth is on Sunday night.

Shocking the football world while making the trade of the offseason, DK Metcalf, one of the league's best WRs is officially a Steeler.

And while that has many pondering what the trade means for George Pickens' future, the interim has him and DK Metcalf needing to have a discussion...

Who wins the battle for #14?

A footnote on the trade but what number will DK Metcalf wear in Pittsburgh. He's worn #14 in high school, college, and NFL. Now those digits are occupied by George Pickens (assuming he stays with Steelers).

- Alex Kozora, Steelers Depot (via X)

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Prior to the Metcalf trade, there was no sign that Pickens would be on the trade block. And as of now, that is still the case. That may soon change, but if Pickens plays out the final year of his deal, someone is going to have to budge when it comes to the number 14.

Some have hypothesized that Pickens would switch to his collegiate number, #1, which he donned during his national championship-winning days with the Georgia Bulldogs.

The problem is, if Pickens were to just up and change his number, he would have to pay for all the current Pickens jerseys in circulation, a total that could mirror the $1m+ that former Minnesota Vikings RB Dalvin Cook had to consider during his change from #33 to #4.

So Pickens would be wise to give notice and change his number in 2026. The problem is, there is a pretty good chance he doesn't need to worry about changing that number in Pittsburgh in 2026 because he may be on an entirely new team.

As talented as Pickens is, he's a massive headache for the Steelers. Everything from fines and penalties to continuous tardiness and missed meetings, he's three years into the league and has seemingly regressed in terms of behavior.

The logical move is letting Pickens play out his rookie deal and determining what to do with him after the 2025 season. Whether that's letting him walk in free agency or franchise tagging and trading him or extending him.

But for now, teams will be calling about Pickens and it will be up to Omar Khan and Mike Tomlin to decide what happens next.