George Pickens Must Change His Look As A No. 1 Option
Credit: Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports
Fashion has never been a major priority for me. Growing up the youngest of three boys in Pittsburgh, I never had much agency when it came to clothing. Hand-me-downs were handed down, and I wore what my brothers wore. It wasn’t until college that I ever thought critically about my clothes.
One night, a frat bro called me “Captain Cargo.” I then realized cargo shorts were long out of style. Now I hear they’re making a comeback. Who knew? Later on, I dabbled in trying some new styles but ultimately came back to simple, practical, and quality clothing. Think more “Eddie Bauer” and less “Abercrombie and Fitch.”
Here’s how we bring this to the Pittsburgh Steelers: If George Pickens is to become a true No. 1 wide receiver for the Steelers this year, he too is going to have to let some of the flash and dazzle in his game take a back seat. Instead, he will have to hone in on the more practical and quality plays the Steelers are going to need him to make.
Let’s explain. If you followed statistical leaderboards in the NFL over the past two years, you would notice that Steelers offensive players rarely found themselves sitting in the top 10 of any category. The dismal performances and play-calling led to a bottom-of-the-barrel offense in nearly every category, and thus most players were given a similar fate.
That is, except for Pickens. He finished the season leading all NFL ball-catchers in the category of “Average Yards Per Catch.” This is nothing to shake a stick at. He was at the top of the list, ahead of the likes of Brandon Ayuik, Amari Cooper, and DK Metcalf. Also in the top 10 were several deep-ball threats and role players with only a fraction of the targets and receptions that Pickens had. It’s a mixed bag.
Because Pickens is to be the No. 1 option in Pittsburgh, the true primary target wideouts like Ayuik, Cooper, and Metcalf are who we must compare him with. The first glaring difference headed into 2024 isn’t the players themselves, but what was around them in 2023.
All three of the players mentioned had depth around them on offense. The 49ers require no endorsement for their star-studded offense and receiving threats. Cooper was supported heavily by solid play from David Njoku and Elijah Moore, and Metcalf had Tyler Lockett and rookie Jaxon Smith-Njigba. As it stands today, those three rosters have either stayed the same or improved. This is not the case for the Steelers.
With the trade of Diontae Johnson this offseason, Pickens finds himself in a room with wide receivers that are better suited for being the third-or-fourth option, rather than the first or second. While Roman Wilson has some hype around him, it is unclear whether he will perform at the next level.
Because of this, it would be shocking and a little concerning if Pickens remains a top yards-per-catch player this season. Not because he doesn’t have the talent, but because it is not what the Steelers will need from him. Will he still have highlight catches and deep balls thrown his way? Certainly. But he won’t be able to make his living off of the back shoulder fade and Go routes. Not when defenses don’t have to worry about a Johnson lining up on the other sideline.
Instead, Pickens will have to provide consistency in the intermediate yardage game. He will need to be a safety valve at times for Russell Wilson, and that will mean forgoing some of his chunk yardage plays. Think less about his one-handed catch against the Browns in 2022 and more like his game-sealing first down against the Seahawks in 2023.
It will be an adjustment for Pickens and Steelers fans, and a critical one at that. There may be fewer big plays, or he may remain explosive on a game-to-game basis. Nevertheless, for Pickens’ season to be a success, his yards per catch must drop. He will be required to catch three-yard balls. To do that, he will have to get open in tight windows, and likely absorb some bit hits. He may be up to the task, but it will mean that his game (and our expectations) must change.
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