Steelers Now
New Steelers wide receiver DK Metcalf shares his thoughts on Pittsburgh trading away George Pickens this offseason.
PITTSBURGH — New Steelers wide receiver DK Metcalf believed he and George Pickens could have thrived together in Pittsburgh. However, the team dealt Pickens to the Dallas Cowboys not long after acquiring Metcalf, ending that dream.
Metcalf opened up about the Steelers decision to trade Pickens on Wednesday.
“I would’ve loved to play with George Pickens,” Metcalf said. “Being here, just to see how he was as a teammate, just to see what I could learn from him. It was a decision the team made and it was out of my hands.”
Pickens was beginning to become a handful for Pittsburgh. In 2023, he was fined over $200,000 between the NFL and the Steelers for on- and off-the-field incidents, including reported serial tardiness to team practices and meetings.
Then in 2024, he received over $80,000 in fines from the NFL for his on-field behavior, including unnecessary roughness, unsportsmanlike conduct, two fights after the end of a loss, and a profane message on his eye black. He also got into a sideline spat with fans.
That is why many believe it will ultimately be an addition by subtraction. But it’s difficult to not imagine what the two players could have done together.
Pickens had served as the Steelers’ No. 1 wide receiver for the past three years, recording 174 catches for 2,841 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Adding Metcalf, who has never had less than 900 receiving yards and five touchdowns in a season, would have made Pittsburgh very difficult to defend.
However, the writing seemed to be on the wall after the Steelers decided to give Metcalf a five-year, $150 million deal after acquiring him from the Seattle Seahawks. It was unlikely that they were going to give Pickens the same kind of payday.
So while Pittsburgh would have been must-see-TV with Metcalf and Pickens on the field together, fans will just have to settle for the team’s new 6-foot-4, 229-pound playmaker.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: DK Metcalf Reflects on George Pickens Trade: ‘I Would’ve Loved to Play With Him’
