Joe Haden Critical Of Controversial Steelers' 2025 Offseason Decision

The Pittsburgh Steelers have had a wild offseason in 2025. The organization has been in the headlines ever since Aaron Rodgers was labeled as a target to be the team's starting quarterback for at least one year. That has finally become a reality, but he isn't the only new offensive player on the roster. DK Metcalf was traded for just prior to the start of free agency, and Kaleb Johnson was also thrown into the mix as a potential difference-maker. Additionally, Kenneth Gainwell and Robert Woods are now in the Steel City. One individual who isn't anymore, however, is wide receiver George Pickens.

It seemed as if the Steelers would have one of the most dominant receiving duos in the NFL, but that reality only lasted for roughly two months. The Dallas Cowboys ended up landing Pickens in a rare May Trade. This immediately earned the franchise some criticism because the receiving corps has not been too dynamic in recent seasons.

There have been plenty of analysts that have expressed displeasure regarding the move, while others believe it may have been best for both parties to split up after a rocky three years. Former Pittsburgh cornerback, Joe Haden, made an appearance on the Up & Adams Show with Kay Adams, on Thursday, and made it clear that he was not pleased with the Steelers' decision to move on from Pickens.

"I wish they wouldn't have gotten rid of George Pickens, because if they would have had [Pickens and DK Metcalf] with [Aaron Rodgers], yeah, it would have been trouble for everyone," Haden said.

When Pickens was traded, Rodgers hadn't officially committed to playing in the Steel City, but it was already expected that he would be under center for the Steelers in 2025. Fans will never get to see the duo of Pickens and Metcalf together, but talent aside, it's evident that the front office and coaching staff in Pittsburgh saw Pickens being on the roster as more of a negative than a positive.

Haden's point is a valid one. No one knows exactly what side of Pickens would have been seen in 2025 if he were with the Steelers, but he never has had the chance to play opposite of another dominant pass-catcher. He will now get that with CeeDee Lamb in Dallas, instead of with Metcalf in Pittsburgh. This is a move that, hopefully, Pittsburgh does not regret later on.

It certainly would have been interesting to see both Metcalf and Pickens in the same offense, but the two are very similar when it comes to their styles of play. Both are deep-ball threats that use a combination of size and athleticism to beat defenders. Once Metcalf was traded for and signed to a deal worth roughly $30 million per year, the writing was on the wall for Pickens.

The good news is that the Steelers now have a receiver locked in under contract for five years and can build around him going forward. Metcalf will be looked at as a leader in the locker room, and Pittsburgh's front office can focus on getting another receiving threat or two over the course of the next offseason or so. It would have been nice to watch how Pickens responded to the adversity of having true top-end wideout alongside him, but that is no longer reality.

Steelers Have A Legitimate Chance To Possess Formidable Offense In 2025

Regardless of the fact that Pickens is now playing elsewhere, Pittsburgh could still have a very strong offense that surprises fans in 2025. Rodgers is a four-time MVP and can make a lot work no matter what players surround him. There are some weapons present, and if the team can add just one more pass-catching threat, the organization could have no problem watching Pickens playing for the Cowboys.

Do you think that the Steelers made a mistake when Pickens was traded to Dallas? Let us know in the comments below!

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