Behind the Lens: Steelers’ offensive makeover complete with Pickens’ departure

The rumor mill was literally abuzz since the final second vanished from the scoreboard in the Steelers’ January playoff loss to the Baltimore Ravens.

Numerous players were involved in the scuttlebutt that ran rampant on sports talk shows, at local watering holes and of course the ever-present dreaded social media apps.

Russell Wilson, Justin Fields, Najee Harris, along with the young and talented receiver, George Pickens, served as the fuel for the fires of debate.

Wilson went and joined forces with the New York Giants, Harris opted for the L.A. Chargers and Justin Fields left for greener pastures with the New York Jets. The last of what I’ll comically label as the four horsemen departed last Wednesday as Pickens was traded to the Dallas Cowboys.

Seems as if the Steelers had enough of the antics of this talented but problematic receiver who has more than once showed signs of being one of the best wideouts in the league. Flashy pass routes and circus-like acrobatic catches couldn’t save Pickens from his less than proper behavior on and off the playing surface.

Multiple agencies have been reporting that along with his verbal tirades, Pickens was late for the team planes and late for team buses as well. All these factors are not the way the Pittsburgh Steelers handle themselves.

The trade would indicate the same sentiment as Pittsburgh received a mediocre 2026 third-round pick and a 2027 fifth-round pick for Pickens. Dallas, which many NFL insiders say is taking a huge risk, received Pickens and a 2027 sixth-round pick from the Steelers.

If the product was that good, one would imagine the payoff for such a trade would have been a far more superior haul for the Steelers. Other teams had inquired as to the status of Pickens on draft day; however, nothing materialized from talks with only a handful of interested teams.

Another sign the Steelers were very serious about parting ways with Pickens was the acquisition of receiver DK Metcalf via the trade route.

Omar Khan, the Steelers general manager, addressed the media on the subject of the Pickens trade stating, “It made sense for everyone.” One could surmise judging from this trade that the so-called rumor mill wasn’t that far off the beaten path.

Perhaps everyone within the Steelers organization had grown tired of Pickens’ explosive behavior on the field and sidelines as well. He had become very vocal in demanding more targets per game from his quarterback. Sideline shouting matches with coaches and players are not the proper method to voice your concerns. This behavior shouldn’t be acceptable on any team at any level of play, especially the NFL.

It appears that the 2025 draft produced a corps of rookies that may fit into the Steelers’ plans for the future as they addressed some critical needs. Some of those draft picks may be able to step in this season and contribute early on.

All the draftees along with invited undrafted players completed the team’s three-day rookie minicamp, which was labeled as a success. Next up are the Steelers’ organized team activities, (OTAs) May 27 through June 5. The team’s mandatory three-day minicamp is set for June 10-12. The regular NFL training camp begins in July.

Some may say the team is building for the future, but isn’t that the case with every NFL draft? You draft to fill the void of departed or soon-to-be departed players, complementing the team’s needs.

The Steelers should have five total picks in the first two days of next year’s 2026 draft, to be held here in Pittsburgh. In the first two days, the Steelers will have their own first-round pick, a second-round pick and three picks in round three. They should also receive a compensatory pick for the Jets’ decision to sign Fields.

Hopefully the talent pool of college players will run deep and Pittsburgh can haul in another quality crop of players to suit the team’s needs.

Whatever your thoughts are on the draft and trades, one thing is for sure: this will be a very interesting season that awaits us. My opinion is the front office is not done acquiring players to add to the final roster.

I’ll leave you with the following as reported by SteelersDepot.com: with the exclusion of the WWII merger years, this is the first time in the club’s 92-year history that the Steelers will start a season without the previous year’s leading passer, rusher and receiver. That has never happened before.