George Pickens floated as surprise trade candidate by insider

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens was floated as a surprise trade candidate that NFL insider Dianna Russini noted she was 'keeping an eye on' as the trade deadline neared. Amid the Davante Adams trade rumors, Russini believes that multiple other wide receivers will be moved, and pointed to Pickens as someone that could get traded.

It makes little sense for the Steelers to trade Pickens unless there is some underlying, stunning reason that comes to light. Pickens is enjoying the best season of his career in his third year. Coming off his first 100 yard performance of the season, Pickens has taken his game to the next level and is on pace for his second straight 1000 yard receiving yard season.

He has 20 receptions for 284 yards, though he has yet to find the end zone. However, Pickens is winning all over the field, and of those 20 receptions, and nine of them have been explosive plays that he and Justin Fields have executed with precision.

Pickens is the alpha, true No. 1 wide receiver that the Steelers have looked to for after the departure of Antonio Brown in 2019. They will have to pay him next offseason, which is another topic to breach, but it seems like the Steelers are looking to add another wide receiver to pair with Pickens and elevate the offense moving forward rather than trading him.

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