Steelers’ George Pickens Has Fans Scared: “Opponents Take Him Out Of Games”

The Pittsburgh Steelers roster has improved significantly in virtually every area this offseason. However, one of the remaining concerns has been the wide receiver room. Early in the offseason, the Steelers decided to trade away star wide receiver, Diontae Johnson. This move means that young and promising wide receiver George Pickens is set to become the team's top wide receiver for the first time in his career.

There has been much discussion about the state of the Steelers' wide receiver room following Johnson's departure. Pickens has shown great potential in his first two seasons and is expected to take a significant leap in the 2024 season with all the attention on him. However, not everyone believes that all this attention will be beneficial for him.

Steelers insider Mark Kaboly analyzed Pittsburgh's entire roster in his article on The Athletic. When discussing Pickens, he expressed a concern about the young receiver. Kaboly believes fans will be anxious each week, worried about whether Pickens will produce.

"Pickens is the unquestioned No. 1 receiver after Diontae Johnson was traded. Whether he can produce without a legitimate No. 2 threat will be a weekly concern, and rightfully so.”

The entire offseason has seen the Steelers linked to virtually every available wide receiver, and even some who are not. Reportedly, the Steelers have been desperate to add a standout wide receiver to complement Pickens, but nothing has materialized recently.

The most popular and logical choice for the Steelers has been San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, who has been linked to the team for several months. Fans have grown weary of these reports and rumors, but Aiyuk has now officially requested a trade, creating positive momentum for a potential Steelers acquisition. If the Steelers were to land Aiyuk, it would alleviate concerns about Pickens, as Aiyuk's presence would free up space for him within the offense.

Kaboly is curious to see how Pickens will respond if the Steelers do not acquire additional help at wide receiver. Pickens had two outstanding games when quarterback Mason Rudolph took over the offense. In the final game of the season, Pickens was not targeted once, yet he remained positive in the postgame interviews. The Steelers organization is hopeful he can carry that momentum into 2024 with new quarterback Russell Wilson.

“Whether or not opponents take him out of games and how he reacts to that is going to be key," Kaboly wrote. "Pickens' numbers spiked last year when Mason Rudolph was inserted into the lineup because of his accuracy, and that could carry over with Wilson at quarterback.”

The Steelers have made a concerted effort to build depth in their wide receiver room, bringing in a plethora of new faces and speedy options. While these additions haven't instilled a great deal of confidence in fans, they do help bolster the unit. 

Additionally, the team has implemented a new system under Offensive Coordinator Arthur Smith, which is expected to feature the tight ends prominently. Pat Freiermuth is anticipated to be a key target in the receiving game, which should help divert some attention away from Pickens.

Steelers' George Pickens Will Need To Be More Positive In 2024

Pittsburgh has improved its roster, and Pickens has been a productive offensive weapon despite playing in a historically weak offense. He is expected to have his best season yet, though there is concern about how easily opposing secondaries might neutralize him. 

His attitude and effort have been questioned at times, and Steelers fans are eager to see how Pickens handles adversity in 2024. He will need to help carry the receiving game, and he should be able to rise to the challenge.

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