The Steelers felt that buying and selling George Pickens “made sense for everyone,” but it surely’s unclear if Pickens is singing the identical tune.
Screenshots surfaced on X of an Instagram remark the place Pickens appeared to name out the Steelers, saying: “They the cheapest organization. Ain’t no stacking year after year they gone let them [expletive] go too soon as it’s time Lmaoo.”
However Pickens then denied the legitimacy of the remark.
“Literally on a plane. No service,” Pickens posted to his Instagram story. “Simply landed and seen straight lies from Pitt followers. Cease with the AI making an attempt to make a narrative. I’m completely satisfied for every part that the metal metropolis did for me.
“Happy Mother’s Day to all the mothers out there,” Pickens closed the message.
It’s potential Pickens may have posted the remark and later deleted it, however outdoors of screenshots, there hasn’t been any legit hyperlinks to his alleged remark.
Within the alleged Instagram remark, Pickens would probably be referencing the truth that he’s simply the latest of a standard pattern in Pittsburgh, the place the group elements methods with younger receivers on the finish of their rookie offers reasonably than extending their contracts.
Notably, Diontae Johnson, Chase Claypool and Juju Smith-Schuster had been all drafted by the Steelers lately and had productive tenures in Pittsburgh earlier than in the end parting methods earlier than any contract extensions.
Pickens has now fallen sufferer to the identical factor.
Whereas Pickens and Co. could not have gotten extensions, it’s value noting that DK Metcalf signed a large five-year $150 million deal instantly upon being dealt to Pittsburgh.
Metcalf is getting into his seventh season and is among the NFL’s high receivers. He’s recorded at least 900 yards in every of his six seasons within the league.
In his three NFL seasons since his second-round choice (52nd general) within the draft, Pickens has proven productiveness as nicely, tallying 801 yards his rookie season, 1,140 in his second yr and 900 this previous season in simply 14 video games.
However with Pickens’ expertise got here fairly the headache for the Steelers.
He racked up loads of unsportsmanlike conduct penalties, typically discovered himself in scuffles and was even late to a sport.
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin as soon as stated that the receiver wanted to “grow up.”
This and the looming contract extension are in the end what led to Pittsburgh sending Pickens and a 2027 sixth-round choose to the Cowboys in change for a 2026 third-rounder and a 2027 fifth-rounder.
Pickens is getting into the ultimate yr of his rookie contract.
