Steelers WR George Pickens linked to NFC North team before 2025 NFL Draft

The Green Bay Packers desperately need a wide receiver, but the 2025 NFL Draft, scheduled Thursday-Saturday in Green Bay, may not be the place to find one. 

Tankathon gives four wide receivers first-round grades: Colorado's Travis Hunter (6-foot, 188 pounds), Arizona's Tetairoa McMillan (6-foot-4, 219 pounds), Texas' Matthew Golden (5-foot-11, 191 pounds) and Ohio State's Emeka Egbuka (6-foot-1, 202 pounds). All could be unavailable for the Packers at pick No. 23 in the first round. 

Thus, Green Bay may take a flier on a talented but polarizing wide receiver. In a story published Wednesday, Fox Sports' Jordan Schultz reported the Pittsburgh Steelers are taking calls on WR George Pickens, and the Packers may be interested.

This offseason, the Steelers acquired two-time Pro Bowl WR DK Metcalf in a trade with the Seattle Seahawks, which may make Pickens more expendable.

"It's just not in their DNA to spend that much on two wideouts," an AFC general manager told Schultz. "Pickens is more available than people think. Green Bay's been serious, and they're not the only ones."  

Pickens — who is set to enter the final year of his rookie contract in 2025 — logged 174 receptions for 2,841 yards and 12 touchdown catches in his first three seasons with the Steelers. 

However, he recorded a career-high six drops in 14 regular-season games in 2024, per Pro Football Reference. He's not afraid to publicly criticize his team, either. 

"Uh, nah," Pickens said when asked if he was optimistic about the Steelers' offensive growth following a 28-14 loss to the Baltimore Ravens in the 2024 AFC wild-card round.

But do the Packers have a WR who is better than Pickens? Last season, no Packer surpassed 857 receiving yards. Pickens, meanwhile, had 900 receiving yards despite the Steelers rotating between QBs Justin Fields and Russell Wilson. 

Playing with Packers QB Jordan Love should improve Pickens' numbers. In 15 games last season, Love tied for 10th in the league in TD passes (25).

Trading for Pickens could be a risk for Green Bay. Still, if the Packers can't improve their receiving corps in the draft, it could be one worth taking.