Report: Steelers open to trading key player

One of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ big offseason acquisitions may have made another of their notable players expendable.

The Steelers have been making and taking calls regarding a potential George Pickens trade, according to Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports. Pickens is eligible for a rookie extension, and many around the league are skeptical that the Steelers will pay the wide receiver after acquiring DK Metcalf earlier in the offseason.

For now, the Steelers appear to be simply gauging interest in Pickens. The Green Bay Packers are named as one team with a strong interest in the wide receiver, though they are not the only ones.

The 24-year-old Pickens has shown off outstanding physical talents during the first three years of his NFL career. However, he has not quite put it all together in an inconsistent Pittsburgh offense. Last season, he caught 59 passes for 900 yards and three touchdowns in 14 games.

The bigger issue with Pickens has been questions about his maturity and work ethic. He occasionally suggests that he is not utilized frequently enough, and has been prone to outbursts when things do not go his way. One report indicated that he often runs afoul of team rules, and coach Mike Tomlin has publicly said Pickens needs to grow up moving forward.

The Steelers traded for Metcalf earlier in the offseason and handed him a big new contract upon acquiring him. A Pickens payday is probably coming too, and it is fair to wonder if the Steelers will be the ones to give it to him.