Steelers factored Aaron Rodgers in George Pickens trade

The Steelers traded George Pickens a month before signing Aaron Rodgers, but the team made the deal with the star quarterback’s arrival in mind. 

ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported that Pittsburgh was wary of how Pickens would have meshed with Rodgers, given the wide receiver’s history of “maturity issues.”

Shortly after the Steelers traded Pickens to the Cowboys on May 7, reporter Mark Kaboly noted that “significant locker room guys were fed up with Pickens’ antics” and that some felt it would be “counterproductive” to keep the 24-year-old. 

After Pickens drew two unsportsmanlike conduct penalties in a 44-38 win over the Bengals in Week 13 last season, Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said the wide receiver “has got to grow up.”

Pickens was also reportedly late to the Steelers’ Christmas Day game against the Chiefs and got into an on-field scuffle with Cowboys cornerback Jourdan Lewis in the Steelers’ 20-17 Week 5 loss to Dallas. 

Moments like those, the Steelers front office hypothesized, would not go over well with Rodgers. 

Rodgers, who was released by the Jets earlier in the offseason, had long been rumored as a potential signing in Pittsburgh, though he did not officially ink his one-year, $13.6 million deal with the Steelers until June 7.

Still, if Pittsburgh’s front office took Rodgers into account for its decision-making on the Pickens trade, the organization must have been very confident the 10-time Pro Bowler ultimately would sign with them. 

With Pickens off the roster, the Steelers’ receiving corps heading into training camp consists of wide receivers DK Metcalf, Robert Woods and Calvin Austin III, plus tight end Pat Freiermuth.

Pickens, on the other hand, is joining star wideout CeeDee Lamb as a key target for Dak Prescott in Dallas, along with wide receiver Jalen Tolbert and tight end Jake Ferguson. 

A former standout at Georgia, Pickens hauled in 59 passes for 900 yards and three touchdowns in 14 games with the Steelers in 2024.