Insider predicts how Steelers will handle George Pickens amid trade rumors

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens continues to be the subject of trade rumors as he enters the final year of his rookie contract. 

During the latest edition of the "Kaboly and Mack" YouTube program, Steelers insider Mark Kaboly of "The Pat McAfee Show" indicated that Pittsburgh head coach Mike Tomlin may not yet be ready to give up on Pickens. 

"...I think I'm really, really thinking or believing that George Pickens will be back," Kaboly explained, as shared by Ross McCorkle of Steelers Depot. "So you better prepare yourself. They're not just gonna dump him and say, 'Let's cut the cancer and just move on here.' They want to at least have somebody in place, and unless you have a guy who is as talented as him, you're not going to do that because all of a sudden that compromises your whole offense. I don't see that happening."

Specifically, Kaboly referenced how the Steelers struck out in their pursuits of big-name receivers such as Brandon Aiyuk and Davante Adams throughout 2024. Mark Daniels of MassLive mentioned that Tee Higgins, Chris Godwin, Amari Cooper, Stefon Diggs, Keenan Allen and DeAndre Hopkins are among noteworthy receivers who could become available this offseason. 

According to Troy Montgomery of Steelers Depot, franchise legend Ben Roethlisberger recently suggested that Pittsburgh's quarterback situation could cause some free-agency targets to think twice about joining the Steelers this offseason. As of the first Wednesday of February, it's unknown if Pittsburgh will run it back with starter Russell Wilson or turn to backup Justin Fields. The Steelers could also let both men hit the open market and then target a proven commodity such as Matthew Stafford of the Los Angeles Rams.

"I think they might have learned from that last year," Kaboly added about Pittsburgh's inability to acquire a top-tier receiver before or during the 2024 season. "I think they learned their lesson the hard way last year that they just can't have their sight set on one guy and just wait for him to make that decision." 

Steelers owner and president Art Rooney II echoed Tomlin when Rooney said recently that the Steelers would like to see Pickens "grow" after the 23-year-old caused numerous headaches for the club last season. Assuming Kaboly is right, it sounds like Pickens will have to show such growth as a member of the Steelers for the foreseeable future.