Steelers Now
Quarterback Mason Rudolph reacts to the Pittsburgh Steelers trading wide receiver George Pickens this offseason.
The Pittsburgh Steelers traded wide receiver George Pickens to the Dallas Cowboys earlier this month, and quarterback Mason Rudolph, who reunited with the team this offseason, was sad to see him go.
“I loved George, and I enjoyed going to work with him. He was a fun personality,” Rudolph said on the “Kaboly and Mack” podcast. “I tried to feed him as much as we could when we played because good things tended to happen when you did. But I understand the way things go. There was just a need, I guess, for a fresh start.”
Pickens is leaving a massive hole on the Steelers offense after recording 174 catches for 2,841 yards and 12 touchdowns as their No. 1 wide receiver the past three years.
However, Pittsburgh already landed his replacement in DK Metcalf, who has never had less than 900 yards and five touchdowns in each of his first six seasons.
Metcalf now paired with wide receivers Calvin Austin III and Roman Wilson and tight end Pat Freiermuth has Rudolph feeling very excited about the offense’s capability this season.
“We’re moving forward with the guys we’ve got on this roster. DK, he’s a pro’s pro,” Rudolph said. “The way he takes care of his body and how inquisitive he is asking questions. Calvin, Pat, Roman, Brandon [Johnson] has been a solid add this offseason. It’s a solid group of guys.”
It remains to be seen who exactly will fill the No. 2 wide receiver spot left by Pickens, but the Steelers don’t seem to be ruling out another trade.
Despite expressing a ton of confidence in Pittsburgh’s current group, general manager Omar Khan didn’t shut down the idea of acquiring another weapon this offseason.
“If there’s an opportunity to add a playmaker on offense, regardless if it’s a receiver, we’ll look into it,” he said. “If it makes sense, it makes sense.”
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Mason Rudolph Reacts to Steelers Trading George Pickens: ‘I Loved George’
