A Pittsburgh Steelers source took a massive shot at George Pickens.
The Pittsburgh Steelers traded WR George Pickens to the Dallas Cowboys in the offseason, and even though Pickens is having an incredible 2025 season with Dallas, it doesn't look like Pittsburgh misses him.
"He's a child," one Steelers source said bluntly about the team's problems with Pickens, via ESPN. "The playmaking is breathtaking. You can't take that away from him. He just really struggled with the maturity part [in Pittsburgh]. You didn't know what you were going to get day to day."
The Steelers selected Pickens with the 52nd overall pick in the 2022 draft. The Georgia product caught 174 balls for 2,841 yards and 12 touchdowns with the Black and Gold.
"When he was having a good day, he's really fun to be around. Funny, cracking jokes, huge smile," a Steelers source said. "When he wasn't having a good day, he didn't want to be bothered or coached. I could never put my finger on why.
"When the ball was in the air, I never worried whether he was going to catch the ball and get his feet in bounds."
Pickens is playing really well for the Cowboys. He has 73 receptions on the season for 1,142 yards and eight touchdowns.
It helps that Pickens is playing with a star QB in Dak Prescott.
"That's where a lot of the issues from Pittsburgh stem from," a player source said. "He didn't have stability at quarterback."
"The stuff he couldn't control, he had a hard time dealing with -- and a quarterback's play is not in his control," another Steelers source said. "I think the quarterback issues [in Pittsburgh] played a part in his frustrations."
Pickens becomes an unrestricted free agent this offseason. The Steelers replaced him with D.K. Metcalf, who has 45 receptions for 605 yards and five touchdowns. Pittsburgh acquired Metcalf from the Seattle Seahawks and gave the Pro Bowler a four-year, $132 million extension.
It's possible Pickens could have played well with Aaron Rodgers, but the Steelers were ready to part ways with the playmaker and start fresh as the WR spot.