A blockbuster NFL Draft day trade proposal has surfaced that would send Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens to the Arizona Cardinals in a move that could shake up the entire weekend in Green Bay.
After trading for D.K. Metcalf and signing him to a four-year, $132 million extension, the Steelers solidified their WR1 spot. With Metcalf entrenched in that role, George Pickens now finds himself in a more uncertain position. While Pickens hasn’t formally requested a trade, his on-field attitude and occasional off-field antics have reportedly become a concern within the organization. And with the 2022 second-round pick entering a contract year, now may be the ideal time for GM Omar Khan to act.
ESPN’s Bill Barnwell proposed a draft day deal that would send Pickens and the No. 21 pick to the Cardinals in exchange for the No. 16 and No. 115 picks, along with wide receiver Michael Wilson:
“Pickens is set to be a free agent next season, so this deal would lock in a meaningful return versus letting him walk. Moving up five spots and landing a fourth-rounder might not feel like much, but that amounts to the No. 72 pick in a typical draft, which seems fair for a player with Pickens’ downside and upside. The Steelers would also get two years of cost-controlled performance from Wilson, who has the size to take over in Pickens’ sideline role,” Barnwell wrote.
For Arizona, the move could add firepower to an already intriguing offense led by Kyler Murray. The Cardinals showed promise in 2024 with an 8-9 finish, hanging around the playoff picture until a late-season slump. Tight end Trey McBride broke out, and rookie Marvin Harrison Jr. impressed with 62 catches for 885 yards and eight touchdowns.
While receiver isn’t a top need for Arizona, in today’s pass-heavy league, adding a talent like Pickens could give Murray another big-play option alongside Harrison and McBride. Even if Pickens only stays for one season, the Cardinals could still receive a compensatory pick if he walks in free agency.
Pickens had an inconsistent 2024 season, finishing with 59 receptions for 900 yards and three touchdowns. That followed a career-best 2023 in which he posted 1,140 yards and five touchdowns. The flashes are there, but questions remain about his ability to perform consistently as a top option.
If the Steelers pull the trigger on this deal, it would mark another bold move in their aggressive offseason. Swapping Pickens for a higher pick and a younger, controllable receiver like Michael Wilson might just be the kind of roster recalibration Pittsburgh needs as it continues to retool for 2025 and beyond.
