PFF Proposes George Pickens Trade — And It Makes No Sense for the Steelers
With the NFL Draft just days away, mock drafts and trade proposals are everywhere. Most are speculative and fun, but some raise eyebrows — and not in a good way. One such case comes from Pro Football Focus (PFF), which recently proposed a hypothetical trade that would send wide receiver George Pickens from the Pittsburgh Steelers to the Detroit Lions.
The proposed trade:
- Lions receive: WR George Pickens and Pick No. 185
- Steelers receive: Pick Nos. 102 and 196
PFF points out that Pickens is entering the final year of his rookie deal and could be a target for trade calls. However, the return suggested in this scenario is far from compelling. In exchange for Pickens and one of their sixth-round picks, Pittsburgh would get a late third-rounder and another sixth-rounder.
On paper, the Steelers would end up with two Day 2 picks (Nos. 83 and 102), but in a year where the receiver class is considered relatively weak, this could leave them without a strong replacement for Pickens. The risk? Pittsburgh might end up in the same position they were in last season — with a true No. 1 receiver like DK Metcalf (if acquired), but not enough depth around him to take advantage of double coverage or draw attention away.
Pickens missed time late in the 2024 season with a hamstring injury, and his absence highlighted the team’s lack of a reliable second option. Unless a breakout from someone like Roman Wilson happens, trading away Pickens would put added pressure on an unproven group.
While it’s not unthinkable that Pickens could be moved — a previous idea of sending him to New England for pick No. 38 was at least reasonable — this PFF proposal falls flat. Given that the Steelers could receive a compensatory third-round pick if Pickens leaves in free agency, trading him now for such a modest return doesn’t add up.
If the Steelers are truly building toward one of their strongest offenses in years, losing Pickens without a significant return only works against that goal. Unless an irresistible offer comes in, he should stay in Pittsburgh.
