Steelers' George Pickens Primed For Another Big Breakout In 2024

The Pittsburgh Steelers and Head Coach Mike Tomlin expected great growth from George Pickens during the 2023 season. The wideout flourished on the field by posting his first 1,000-yard receiving year while leading the league in yards per reception. Pickens made significant progress towards being recognized as one of the top receivers in the game in 2023. However, to his disappointment, he was not named to the Pro Bowl. Bleacher Report believes that in his third year, Pickens can take another step forward with improved circumstances. 

Kristopher Knox put Pickens on a list of six breakout stars from the previous season that are primed to have a bigger year in 2024. He was the only wide receiver to make the list, but cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt joined him representing the AFC North. 

Knox noted that Pickens performed exceptionally well while playing with three quarterbacks in 2023. In 2024, he may only have to work with two. The team replaced Kenny Pickett, Mitch Trubisky and Mason Rudolph with Justin Fields and Russell Wilson.  

"Despite getting some very inconsistent quarterback play out of Kenny Pickett and Mason Rudolph, Pickens exploded with a 63-catch, 1,140-yard, five-touchdown season. Pickens also led the NFL with an 18.1 yards-per-carry average."

Off the field, things were a bit different. His behavior on social media earlier in the year was a distraction, and he refused to block during a play that could have resulted in a touchdown against the Indianapolis Colts. However, he redeemed himself toward the end of the season by blocking for Jaylen Warren, helping him score in Seattle, and not complaining when he only had one carry and no receptions in a rainy season finale against the Baltimore Ravens.

Knox suggested that although Wilson's performance may have declined, potentially impacting Pickens' stats, Pickens is still in a better position with his quarterbacks in 2024. Knox also noted that there isn't a standout wide receiver on the team who would compete with Pickens for targets.

"Wilson has seemed to lose a bit of the long ball in recent years, so Pickens' yards-per-catch average could dip if Wilson holds off Fields. However, it's hard to envision Pittsburgh's QB situation being less consistent than it was last year—when it ranked 25th in yards and 20th in net yards per attempt—which should increase Pickens' opportunities. While rookie wideout Roman Wilson will be competing for targets, Diontae Johnson was traded, which leaves Pickens as the clear-cut top option."

If Pickens can find chemistry with his new quarterbacks, a Pro Bowl nomination might be in the cards for him in 2024. He's produced under some difficult-to-deal-with circumstances through his first two seasons, so it's fair to expect him to take another step with a better environment around him. 

Steelers Making Offense A Priority And It Can Be To Pickens Benefit 

The Steelers have heavily invested in their offense during the 2024 offseason, as the unit struggled since the final days of Ben Roethlisberger's career. The Matt Canada experiment ended in 2023, and the Arthur Smith era is set to begin in 2024. With an emphasis on running the football under Smith's leadership and early investments in the offensive line, this strategy should also benefit Pickens. 

Smith played a crucial role in developing AJ Brown into a receiver with over a thousand yards in both years he was the offensive coordinator for the Tennessee Titans. Brown totaled 2126 yards on 122 receptions with 19 touchdowns in 20 games under Smith. While Brown has continued to excel with the Philadelphia Eagles, Smith initially unlocked his potential as a second-round pick from Mississippi.

With an improved quarterback room and a more experienced coordinator, it's fair to expect Pickens to find another gear in 2024. It's now up to Pickens to make sure that he keeps everything on the field going, and show he's moved on from his early season mistakes in 2023.