Remember last season when the Steelers‘ receiving corps felt like a one-man show starring George Pickens? Despite his best efforts, defenses caught on, and our offense became as predictable as a rom-com plot. Van Jefferson and Calvin Austin III tried to spice things up, but let’s be real—it was like adding a dash of salt to an under-seasoned stew. Mike Tomlin and Omar Khan were surely aware of their WR room lacking a seasoned wideout. The result?

Well, ever since the news hit the headlines that the Seahawks had agreed to trade DK Metcalf, Tomlin was keen to sign the 27-year-old wideout. Fast forward, and here we are. The Steelers signed Metcalf on a massive $150 million contract for five years. And that’s where things get pretty interesting. See, both Metcalf and Pickens are known for their fiery on-field demeanor.

And ever since the signing of Metcalf, the rumor mill has been buzzing for a potential trade of Pickens. However, when Omar Khan was asked if Metcalf’s addition to the roster impacts Pickens’ future, the GM straight-up admitted why they signed Metcalf in the first place. “You need more than one receiver in this league, and we’re fortunate we have George and Calvin (Austin) and excited about what Roman (Wilson’s) going to be able to do for us.” Translation?

Well, after parting ways with Diontae Johnson, the Steelers finally have a dynamic playmaker to play alongside Pickens. That means it’s safe to say that the Steelers are going to stick with Pickens—even though they brought the veteran Metcalf onto their team. And why not? I mean, despite his off-field criticism, the fourth-year WR has been the Steelers’ go-to guy. And his last couple of seasons aren’t telling lies.

With 63 catches for 1,140 yards at an average of 18.1 yards per catch, the guy racked up 5 TD in the 2023 season. The last season? A more matured one—since we’re considering the departure of Johnson. He just appeared in 14 games, and recorded 59 catches for 900 yards, averaging 15.2 yards per reception while racking up 3 TDs.

To make things obvious, Tomlin addressed this situation and talked about how signing Metcalf could open things up for Pickens. “I don’t know that it affects him in any way directly,” Tomlin said on Sunday. “The strength of the pack is the pack, and when you have eligibles that are schematic problems for those that defend you, it creates more opportunity for all involved. And I think that’s probably the only lens through which I’ve looked at this to that point.”

On top of that, during the introductory Steelers press conference, Metcalf also praised Pickens and stated that he’s looking to learn from the fourth-year WR. Speaking of Metcalf, the head coach also cleared his stance on a record-breaking trade of Metcalf.

Mike Tomlin and Co. are excited about DK Metcalf being a part of the team

The Steelers entered the offseason fresh off of a five game losing streak. That raised many questions about how the front office is going to tackle their QB concerns. Turns out, the QB situation wasn’t the only issue for Tomlin and his crew in 2025. In fact, the team was looking to bolster their O-line by adding a true WR1. Sure, Pickens was already on their O-line.

But let’s not kid ourselves—the Steelers just can’t create chaos for the opposition with just one WR. As a result, Pittsburgh signed DK Metcalf to add depth to their receiving corp. To make it more interesting, Tomlin was reportedly keen to sign Metcalf when the 27-year-old WR requested a trade. And now?

Well, when asked if that decision to sign Metcalf came together, Tomlin replied, “It depends on how you define quickly, but certainly his interest in us really made it a fluid endeavor. It’s great to, you know, do business with somebody that’s really excited about being a Steeler and he’s expressed that continually and as are we excited about him being a part of us.”

And honestly, Tomlin’s statement isn’t without merit. And we aren’t making that point. The reason? See, Metcalf wasn’t just looking for a new home. Oh no. The guy was all in joining the Steelers from the start. During his introductory press conference last week, Metcalf expressed his excitement to play in Pittsburgh. “I felt ecstatic just to hear about the Steelers,” he said.

“I thought back to the meeting me and coach Tomlin had at the 2019 (NFL) Combine. He just always spoke volumes into me and spoke of my play in college. Being in the league and going up to him before or after a game, and he kept that same rapport with me. It just felt like the right decision for me.” That said, Metcalf will start his 2025 campaign in Pittsburgh after recording yet another great season with the Seahawks.

The guy fell just shy of another 1,000+ yards season and racked up 5 touchdowns in the last season. And after wrapping up his sixth season in Seattle, Metcalf’s going to join George Pickens’ on the Steelers’ O-line.