Report: Steelers 'open' to trade calls for WR George Pickens ahead of Day 2 of NFL Draft

The Pittsburgh Steelers have been receiving calls about the availability of receiver George Pickens, per Dianna Russini of The Athletic. Pittsburgh, which does not own a second-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, is “open to conversations” ahead the start of Day 2 on Friday.

The Steelers are scheduled to next make a selection in the third round with pick No. 83 overall. They used their first-round selection to take Oregon defensive tackle Derrick Harmon. Considering the Steelers have a glaring hole at the quarterback position, not having a second-round pick is less than ideal. At the same time, that pick was used to acquire star wideout DK Metcalf, who was expected to make up one of the league’s better receiver duos alongside Pickens.

Pickens, the 2022 Round 2 pick out of Georgia, is entering the final year of his rookie contract. Wednesday, FOX Sports’ Jordan Schultz reported Pickens’ name came up in trade discussions ahead of the draft. Schultz called the 24-year-old “a name to watch this week” in the lead-up to the draft. Amid the reports, he unfollowed the franchise on Instagram.

Pickens appeared in 14 games last season as he missed some time with an injury. During that time, he hauled in 59 receptions for 900 yards and three touchdowns as a key piece of the Steelers’ passing attack. That came after an impressive second year in the NFL in 2023 when he had a career-high 1,140 yards and five touchdowns. His 18.1 yards per reception led the league that season.

George Pickens’ time in Pittsburgh nearing its end?

His tenure in Pittsburgh has been turbulent at times. Head coach Mike Tomlin said he needed to “grow up” after he was flagged for two unsportsmanlike penalties during the Week 13 win over the Cincinnati Bengals this past season.

“He’s just got to grow up, man,” Tomlin said in December. “It’s an emotional game. These divisional games are big. He got a target on his back because he’s George. He understands that. But he’s got to grow up. He’s got to grow up in a hurry.”

At February’s NFL Scouting Combine, Steelers general manager Omar Khan declined to discuss specifics of Pickens’ next contract. However, he said the exit meeting after the 2024 season was a positive one.

“I had a really solid exit meeting with GP, and I can tell you that he has a desire to be great,” Khan said. “He has a desire to be great here. We have a desire for him to be great and to be great here, with respect to the contract. We won’t discuss that publicly and usually those things are addressed at a later date.”

On3’s Nick Schultz contributed to this report.