Steelers’ George Pickens projected to become top 5 WR in the league following ‘All-Pro leap’ in 2024

Despite playing in one of the league's most inept offenses for the entirety of his two-year career, George Pickens has still managed to put up some respectable numbers while positioning himself to soon emerge as one of the NFL's next great wideouts.

The 23-year-old put himself on the map as a rookie when he caught 52 passes for 801 yards and four scores and further elevated his game during a 63-catch, 1,140-yard, five-touchdown sophomore campaign in 2023.

With Arthur Smith taking over as Pittsburgh's offensive coordinator and nine-time Pro Bowl quarterback Russell Wilson ready to revitalize his career with the club, it should come as little surprise if and when Pickens makes a herculean leap in Year 3.

-Alex Kay, 6 NFL Players Primed To Make an All-Pro Leap in 2024

We know that Pickens wants to become an even bigger fixture in the NFL. He was publicly upset after viewing himself as a "snub" in last year's Pro Bowl voting, and he recently told reporters at OTAs that he pulls "all-nighters" just thinking about football and what he can become. 

But those around him know how special he can be:

“You can tell there’s more experience in him,” Steelers RB Jaylen Warren told Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post Gazette when asked about Pickens. “He knows what he’s doing, so he’s moving faster. He’s doing his thing...

"...With his talent, going into his third year, he can definitely get up there and be one of the best in the league.”

An absurdly athletic human, Pickens has been a nightmare for defensive backs at all levels for his entire life. But what he has lacked is nuance. 

Whether that be on the field with his route running, or his maturity off of it, Pickens just needs some seasoning to reach his full potential. 

We have seen him work on that this offseason, both on the grass and in life:

"I lead by example, so whatever I'm doing outside on the field, I think the guys are gonna follow me," Pickens said at OTAs last week. 

A year of growth on tap, how well he handles himself in between the hashes and in the locker room will be determinants of just how high his ceiling is.