Here’s Rooney’s answer when asked about Pickens, per Labriola:
“I think wide receiver is an area we’ve got to look at improving. George is a very talented player who has room to grow. We’d like to see him grow and hopefully he realizes the potential that he has, but definitely room for growth there.”
Every team seems to have one or two guys in that room who you have to manage correctly. I still think George has enough talent that we’ve got to try to work and see if we can get him to fulfill the talent that he really has. Who knows if we can get there? We’ll see.
“But when you have guys who are as talented as some of the guys you’re probably thinking of, you try to work with them and have them help you be successful.”
Pickens led Steelers receivers with 900 receiving yards in 14 games this season.
He also took multiple costly penalties in a season during which he received more than $90,000 in fines reported publicly by the NFL.
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said after Pickens netted two unsportsmanlike conduct penalties in a Week 13 win over the Cincinnati Bengals that the receiver “has just got to grow up.”
When asked again about Pickens after the Steelers’ season ended with a Wild Card round loss to the Baltimore Ravens, Tomlin answered only that the Steelers had not yet discussed any player extensions and that the team was “still assessing” the results of the 2024 season.
Pickens, the No. 2 selection of the 2022 NFL draft, has one year and an estimated $3.25 million remaining on his rookie contract, per Spotrac.
Given that neither Russell Wilson nor Justin Fields are signed for next season, and the possibility that Pickens could be a trade candidate if the Steelers decide not to re-sign him, both the QB1 and WR1 positions in Pittsburgh seem currently undecided heading into the 2025 season.
