Pittsburgh Steelers: WR George Pickens Developing Strong Connection with QB Kenny Pickett

George Pickens, once considered to be the top wide receiver in the 2022 NFL Draft, fell to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the middle of the second round. With Kenny Pickett behind center, the former Georgia Bulldog looks like the future of the wide receiver position in the NFL.

George Pickens has possessed an NFL-sized frame since his high school days in Hoover, Alabama. Pickens was a much-heralded five-star recruit and initially committed to the Auburn Tigers before flipping to the Georgia Bulldogs instead.

Pickens immediately stepped in and led the Bulldogs in receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns in 2019. The star wideout became the first Georgia freshman to record 12 catches and 175 yards in a bowl game, also catching a touchdown pass in his Sugar Bowl MVP efforts.

The hype train centered around Pickens was moving at a breakneck pace heading into the 2020 college football season. Injuries crept in throughout the season, but Pickens still started eight games and performed at his expected high level.

In a late spring practice before the 2021 season, tragedy struck as George Pickens tore his ACL. An expected top-ten pick in the 2022 NFL Draft at the time, Pickens was forced to miss the entire regular season for Georgia, aside from a brief appearance in the season finale vs. Georgia Tech.

The good news for Pickens is that he still looked every bit the part of a WR1 in his limited action on the field. He’s a bully as a blocker on the outside and as highlighted by his career-long 52-yard reception in the National Championship Game vs. Alabama, the big play ability was still paramount within his 6-foot-3, 200-pound frame.

Between medicals and a slew of talented pass catchers that nailed the pre-draft process, Pickens fell to the middle of the second round in the 2022 NFL Draft. After taking what they hope to be a franchise quarterback in round one with Kenny Pickett, the Steelers front office decided to take George Pickens and link the two together going forward.

Veteran Mitchell Trubisky opened the season as the starter in Pittsburgh, but early in week four, Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin decided to insert his rookie signal-caller into the lineup. In doing so, the team unlocked a different side of George Pickens’ game.

While Pickett is not without his shortcomings, he’s a confident quarterback that is never afraid to push the ball downfield. This results in ugly interceptions, but also some big play potential on the outside that Trubisky simply doesn’t bring to the table.

In two games with Pickett as the primary quarterback, George Pickens has accumulated 12 catches (16 targets) and 185 yards through the air. He’s added to his growing list of highlight reel plays by winning jump balls and creating yards after the catch when given the chance.

Diontae Johnson is no slouch either, which will benefit Pickens as he continues to develop by keeping the defenses from zeroing in on the rookie. If the offensive line ever gets figured out and gives their quarterback enough time to work downfield, this should only help Pickens’ ability to put up gaudy numbers.

The freakish pass catcher is making the rest of the league look foolish as a rookie. The former Georgia star has looked particularly good in the time spent on the field with fellow rookie, Kenny Pickett, giving Steelers fans hope for brighter days in the near future.

Even if it’s just due to sheer volume, George Pickens is positioned to put up the best numbers at wide receiver for any rookie. Pickett feels comfortable hitting the massive target on the outside; if he can rough out the edges behind center, Pickett can make Pickens into one of the best wide receivers in the entire NFL.