Is wide receiver George Pickens wasted talent in the Pittsburgh Steelers offense? This is the question posed by Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk on his show with Chris Simms.
On the surface, it is an interesting question. Florio compares Pickens to former Steelers wide receiver Chase Claypool.
“With Claypool, we have to start asking, do they know how to use, do they know how to develop, do they know how to cultivate a talent like that, or is it wasted in the Pittsburgh offense,” Florio asked. “That’s why it’s more of a pressing question with Pickens.”
There are a couple of points to unpack here with this comparison. Florio compares their styles, which is a valid point. Both are big, athletic receivers who are advertised as guys who excel on contested catches. The difference we’ve seen so far is Pickens really does go up and fight for the football, and Claypool never showed much of that in Pittsburgh.
It’s also important to note, Claypool has done very little since leaving the Steelers. I will be more open to entertaining the idea of Claypool’s failings being a Steelers issue when he becomes a star in Chicago.
I absolutely concede that on a team with an elite quarterback, Pickens could be a Justin Jefferson-type of player. But with Kenny Pickett at quarterback and the volume of skill players around him, the numbers aren’t going to be there. But this doesn’t mean his talent is wasted by any means.
