Pittsburgh Steelers Have “Solid Exit Meeting” With George Pickens, Eye Contract Extension
The Pittsburgh Steelers continued their winning season streak this past season. It didn’t come without drama. Star wide receiver George Pickens had some jaw-dropping plays this season but also some head-scratching errors. In Week 13 against the Cincinnati Bengals, he was flagged for two unsportsmanlike conduct penalties after getting into an on-field scuffle the previous week. Many questioned his effort at times, noting that when things were not going his way, he would seemingly quit on the team. It led many to wonder if the Steelers would look to trade him. That does not seem to be the case, according to GM Omar Khan.
Pittsburgh Steelers George Pickens Has Positive Meeting
Khan spoke with reporters on Tuesday morning at the NFL Combine. He discussed the team’s state and touched on George Pickens’s situation. According to Brooke Pryor of ESPN, the two had “a solid exit meeting,” and Khan expressed that the former second-round pick “has a desire to be great.” The meeting apparently went really well. Going into the offseason, his maturity was questioned, but now, the Pittsburgh Steelers seem ready to commit to him long-term.
It isn’t hard to see why the Pittsburgh Steelers want to keep Pickens around. In three seasons, he has 174 catches for 2,841 yards and 12 touchdowns. His ability to make ultra-athletic plays makes him a matchup nightmare for any defensive back. Furthermore, outside of Pickens, the wide receiver group is very thin. Khan has shown an ability to find star receivers in any round of the NFL Draft, but teams never want to get rid of a talent that is already there.
Who Will Throw The Ball To Pickens In 2025?
While it is great to hear that George Pickens will likely stick around the organization, the Pittsburgh Steelers have a massive question at the quarterback position. Justin Fields and Russell Wilson were the starters last year. Both are currently free agents. The team has expressed the desire to keep one, but neither is a slam dunk. Fields continued to show inconsistency but offers a dual-threat quarterback who is still young.
Wilson has the pedigree and still can play at a high level but is in the twilight of his career. While he had moments of greatness last season, he also had games where he looked wholly outmatched on the field. I would expect the team to try and target a quarterback at some point in the upcoming NFL Draft. Even if it isn’t in the first round, the team should take a swing on at least one prospect to try and build for the future.
Final Thoughts
Pittsburgh Steelers fans can rest easy. Their star receiver looks to be sticking around. It will be interesting to see where things go from here. Khan offered no other details, saying, “We won’t discuss that publicly and usually those things are addressed at a later date.” Will a new contract get done this offseason, or will the team wait to see the progress on the field?
