Can Steelers rookie George Pickens make immediate impact?
Rookie huge receiver George Pickens has captivated a lot of consideration for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Pittsburgh kicked off its preseason Saturday evening with a 32-25 victory over the Seattle Seahawks. Though quarterback Kenny Pickett’s NFL debut and game-winning drive stole the present, Pickens had fairly the exhibiting himself.
Pickens completed with three receptions for 43 yards and a landing, and the rating was one of many higher catches of the preseason to this point, as Pickens reeled in a 26-yard go from Mason Rudolph within the again nook of the top zone.
Pickens was the highest-graded offensive rookie from Saturday’s preseason video games, Professional Soccer Focus reported.
Pittsburgh chosen Pickens with the No. 52 choose within the 2022 NFL Draft out of Georgia. The Steelers’ draft haul additionally included Pittsburgh’s Pickett (No. 20) and Texas A&M defensive lineman DeMarvin Leal (No. 84).
Pickens had a rollercoaster run at Georgia. Throughout his freshman and sophomore seasons (2019-20), he averaged 620 receiving yards and 7 receiving touchdowns on 42.5 receptions per season (14.5 yards per reception).
Pickens tore his ACL the following offseason and did not swimsuit up for Georgia once more till Nov. 2021. Though Pickens solely had 5 receptions that school soccer season, he caught a 52-yard go for Georgia within the Nationwide Championship Sport victory over Alabama.
Pittsburgh has primarily derived its offensive core by means of the draft. Vast receivers Diontae Johnson — who lately signed a two-year, $36.7 million extension — and Chase Claypool have each emerged as secure pass-catchers after the Steelers nabbed them within the draft. Final offseason, they drafted operating again Najee Harris (No. 24 choose) and tight finish Pat Freiermuth (No. 55 choose), who each begin.
May Pickens be Pittsburgh’s subsequent homegrown stud receiver?
The Steelers want somebody to step up within the wake of JuJu Smith-Schuster’s departure by means of free company.
They completed final season within the again half of the NFL in offense in what was quarterback Ben Roethlisberger’s swan track. Pittsburgh completed the common season with 222.2 passing yards per sport (fifteenth within the NFL), 23 passing touchdowns (tied for sixteenth), 11 interceptions (tied for seventh fewest), 9.5 yards per completion (final) and an 85.3 passer score (twenty fourth).
In a situation wherein both free-agent signee Mitchell Trubisky or Pickett are underneath middle, the mobility of each QBs ought to permit the Steelers to increase extra performs. Pickens showcased the flexibility to be a viable downfield possibility for a well-balanced Georgia offense.
With Johnson and Claypool attracting consideration on the skin and Freiermuth attracting consideration in the course of the sector, minimal eyeballs will probably be on Pickens within the passing sport.
Can he thrive as a tertiary supply of offense? One among his QBs actually thinks so.
“George has proven nice spatial consciousness, the flexibility to get toes down, make these contested catches, all camp,” Rudolph said after Saturday’s game. “So I wasn’t stunned.”
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