George Pickens Unfollows Steelers on Instagram During the Last 12 months of His Contract

With the 2025 NFL Draft on the horizon, Pittsburgh Steelers huge receiver George Pickens has emerged as some of the talked-about names in commerce rumors.

The 23-year-old receiver made extra noise this week when he unfollowed the Steelers on Instagram, creating hypothesis about his future within the Steel City.

Pickens’ Name Circulates in Trade Talks

FOX Sports’ insider Jordan Schultz, citing league executives, says Pickens’ title has been talked about throughout pre-draft commerce talks. The incontrovertible fact that he unfollowed Steelers on Instagram may imply that “something” is brewing between the group and the younger participant.

Pittsburgh is just not actively coping with the previous Georgia standout, however league executives are protecting his state of affairs shut, Schultz reported, labeling him “a name to watch” on the eve of the draft, which begins Thursday in Green Bay.

Pickens is within the final season of his rookie deal, so he is a extremely coveted participant for groups in search of a big-play receiver with no long-term cap obligation, at the least in the interim.

Strong Stats, Stock on the Rise

Even after affected by an damage the earlier season, Pickens performed in 14 video games and made 59 receptions for 900 yards and three touchdowns. During 2023, he emerged as one of many NFL’s greatest deep threats, registering 1,140 yards and 5 touchdowns. His 18.1 yards per catch led the league that 12 months, making him a vertical risk with elite upside, in response to YardBarker.

Steelers GM Offers Optimism. But Keeps Contract Talks Quiet

Steelers basic supervisor Omar Khan offered a cautious however upbeat perspective when queried relating to Pickens on the NFL Scouting Combine in February.

“I had a really solid exit meeting with GP, and I can tell you that he has a desire to be great,” Khan stated. “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.”

However, Khan stopped in need of confirming any contract negotiations, saying these discussions are usually saved non-public and dealt with throughout the offseason.

DK Metcalf Joins Pittsburgh, Adding to WR Drama

The Steelers drew headlines earlier within the offseason once they traded for star huge receiver DK Metcalf from the Seattle Seahawks.

Metcalf signed a five-year contract upon his arrival in Pittsburgh, elevating questions on whether or not the franchise is retooling its receiving corps and whether or not Pickens is part of these long-term plans.

If Pickens chooses to not proceed with the Steelers for his last 12 months, Pittsburgh has lots of choices to think about. First, they may signal Aaron Rodgers, however the veteran’s indecisiveness will imply a protracted ready sport for the group. Second, they may think about signing Kirk Cousins as a part of their Plan B if Rodgers lands on one other group.