The Pittsburgh Steelers had a strong start to the 2024 season, but ultimately fell flat, losing their last four regular season games and the Wild Card game against the Baltimore Ravens. When the schedule was released, everyone circled the three games they would play in 10 days against some of the best teams in the league. While the team initially performed better than expected, those elite opponents spotlighted their weaknesses, with the biggest being a lack of offensive weapons.
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Steelers’ Russell Wilson and the offense against the Eagles.
Going into the 2024 season, they only had one top wide receiver, George Pickens. They tried to sign others, including Brandon Aiyuk and Davante Adams, but they didn’t pan out. Fans’ concerns are only exacerbated by how Pickens has proven problematic. While many want to see him traded, Mark Kaboly of The Pat McAfee Show told The 93.7 The Fan Morning Show that he doesn’t think they should rush to make any decisions.
“I think it’s too early to say right now,” said Kaboly. “Obviously free agency is going to dictate that. If they are able to get somebody, then I think he’s more than likely gone. If not, I don’t cut my nose off to spite my face on this one. I’m not going into a season just saying, ‘Ah, I don’t want George Pickens because he might be a bad seed.’ I want George Pickens if I don’t have anybody else. I don’t want Van Jefferson and Cavin Austin, right?”
The difference in talent between Pickens and those who came behind him on the depth chart is significant. Opposing defenses could key in on Pickens and render the passing game primarily non-existent.
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Buccaneers’ Chris Godwin.
Kaboly added that if they trade Pickens, they will have two big holes to fill, which could be challenging. Pickens may display frustrating behaviors, but his talent is undeniable. They would have to find a receiver as good or better than Pickens and then find that already missing number two.
“We look at Tee Higgins and say, ‘Oh, he would be a perfect fit here,’ remember last year with Calvin Ridley,” asked Kaboly. “He’d fit nice here in Pittsburgh and then he got paid like $35 million bucks a year, and we’re like, ‘Oh, that was never going to happen.’ I have a feeling that you might be headed down the pike here with Tee Higgins, so you might have to go to that second level if it’s Chris Godwin coming off his ankle injury. I think that would be a good guy to go after.”
Kaboly said the Steelers can’t afford to do what they did with Diontae Johnson and just trade him without having someone to take his place. He said if they got that second-level player like Chris Godwin, they had to pair him with Pickens. But if they can work out a deal for Adams this offseason, they can use Pickens to move up in the draft.
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Steelers’ George Pickens fought with Greg Newsome II after losing to the Browns.
Pickens will be entering his fourth season, and the Steelers will need to decide whether or not to offer him an extension. Kaboly has said several times that he is concerned about how he will behave if he doesn’t feel secure in 2025.
Steelers Have A Few Options
While Adams indicated that he would be willing to entertain a conversation about coming to Pittsburgh, the Steelers need to avoid putting all their eggs in one basket as they did with Aiyuk.
Godwin is coming off a season-ending injury, and Kaboly is concerned he isn’t a top-level player. Another name that has come up as a possible partner for Pickens is Marquise Brown. He is just coming back from a shoulder injury and could be less expensive.
Other players could be considered, such as Stefon Diggs and Amari Cooper. Still, Kaboly feels they need to hold on to Pickens until they are sure who else they can bring in, especially considering Pittsburgh rarely overpays players.
