The Pittsburgh Steelers swapped out George Pickens for DK Metcalf, and Ray Fittipaldo believes they’re higher off for it. They need to be, in any case, since they paid extra for Metcalf than they obtained for Pickens. However whereas off-field points could have precipitated the Pickens commerce, it’s on the sphere the place they may profit, he says.
“Being that quarterback’s greatest buddy, being in the precise place on the proper time. Everyone knows that didn’t at all times occur with George Pickens”, Fittipaldo stated, contrasting him with DK Metcalf, on the North Shore Drive podcast.
“Yeah, George can actually present some massive performs now and again for you, nevertheless it was by no means actually in step with him”, he added of Pickens. “George by no means actually helped himself and did the little issues that you just wanted to succeed. DK [Metcalf], which I believe is without doubt one of the greatest causes they went out and acquired him, he’s a professional. He’s gonna have knowledgeable method, and he’s gonna be that dependable receiver {that a} quarterback needs”.
He identified that, in contrast to Metcalf, Pickens has by no means had nice manufacturing in his profession. Past one 1,000-yard season, and his yards per catch, Pickens has been a mean receiver once you look in the back of his buying and selling card. 5 touchdowns is his excessive, whereas Metcalf by no means had fewer than 5.
One can argue that George Pickens has had extra quarterback points than DK Metcalf. Whereas Metcalf has performed with Geno Smith extra not too long ago, he did spend the primary half of his profession with Russell Wilson. Pickens performed principally with Wilson final yr, however even that noticed interruptions as a consequence of accidents to each.
Nonetheless, Pickens completed third in receiving touchdowns final season, so others managed to provide extra. Metcalf, with 5 touchdowns, completed second on the Seahawks behind Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
Whereas some would possibly balk on the thought of DK Metcalf being this choirboy skilled, Mason Rudolph did simply reward him, calling him the “final skilled”, which he didn’t say about George Pickens. In distinction, Rudolph known as his former teammate a “enjoyable persona” that he “tried to feed as a lot as potential”.
Again in March, the Steelers acquired Metcalf for a second-round decide, then gave him a $150 million contract. After a draft by which they didn’t draft a large receiver, they traded Pickens together with a sixth-round decide. In return, they obtained third- and fifth-round picks, however they don’t have to fret about him appearing out in a contract yr on a staff that had no intention of signing him to a different contract.
In fact, Pickens and Metcalf will finally decide how this story performs out. If Pickens thrives elsewhere, will or not it’s as a result of the Steelers failed him, or did the commerce wake him up? Reportedly, whereas he thought-about requesting a commerce, he didn’t, and wished to play the yr out.
