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WATCH: Mike Tomlin delivers the news to George Pickens of him being drafted by Pittsburgh Steelers

ns_headshot_2024-clearby:Nick Schultz•04/29/22•

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Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire

One of the best parts of the NFL Draft is the phone call from the head coach to the prospect. The Pittsburgh Steelers had their cameras rolling to capture the moment Mike Tomlin told George Pickens the good news.

Pittsburgh drafted Pickens as the No. 52 overall pick in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft on Friday. Before the pick was announced on the Las Vegas stage, Tomlin had a phone call to make — and he told the former Georgia standout where he’d be playing next year.

“Hey, we’re about to make you a Pittsburgh Steeler, brother,” Tomlin said. “We are excited about you, man. You had a heck of a proy day. … We’re excited about putting you into the fold, man. We’re going to need that playmaking.”

Pittsburgh Steelers select George Pickens in 2022 NFL Draft

The Pittsburgh Steelers are banking on Georgia product George Pickens to come in and transform their wide receiving corps. After playing a huge role throughout his time in Athens, the former versatile Bulldogs pass catcher will be expected to do the same in his NFL career. That’s why the Steelers took him off the board early in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft on Thursday night, picking him No. 52 overall.

While a torn ACL took away most of Pickens’ season last year, the star wide receiver made an impressive return from the injury quicker than anyone could’ve imagined. The former Bulldogs pass catcher was back in time for the College Football Playoff, where he hauled in a huge 52-yard reception that gave Georgia momentum against Alabama.

In his three seasons with the Bulldogs, Pickens accumulated 1,347 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns. Last season, Pickens realized his dream of bringing a championship to Georgia, helping to end a drought that spanned over 40 years when the Bulldogs defeated Alabama in the 2022 College Football Playoff National Championship Game.