Omar Khan Explains Why Steelers Moved On from George Pickens
Khan took to the podium at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex on Friday to set the record straight about how George Pickens ended up traded to the Dallas Cowboys on Wednesday.
Advertisement
The Steelers were not expecting to trade Pickens, and were not actively shopping him, after fielding calls and turning down offers during the 2025 NFL Draft. But when the Cowboys called with an offer this week, they took it seriously.
'The trade sort of happened quickly,' Khan said. 'We had some people inquire during the draft. Nothing that really made sense. The Cowboys reached out, I don't remember what day it was, but earlier this week. They proposed something for us to think about.'
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens during a game against the Kansas City Chiefs on Dec. 25, 2024. — End Thompson / Steelers Now
The reason there were not weeks and weeks of trade drama is that the Steelers didn't try to shop Pickens to all 31 other teams, looking for a better deal. There reportedly was not much of a market for Pickens, anyway, but the Steelers tried to do right by him, sending him to place where he was comfortable going.
Advertisement
'We had conversations internally and also had some conversations with George's agent Dave [Mulugheta], who I had a good relationship with,' Khan said. 'We discussed where thing have been with George, where they are, and where things could go with George. This trade made sense for everyone. … Lot of serious conversations, honest conversations. We just felt that a fresh start for both sides were the right thing.'
The trade wasn't about anything that happened in the moment, not was it about the Steelers and Pickens running into problems with negotiations on a contract extension. The Steelers don't even start those until later this summer.
It was, as Khan noted, about the personality fit — something he acknowledged has now happened repeatedly at the wide receiver position.
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson talks with George Pickens on the sideline during a game against the Indianapolis Colts on Nov. 29, 2022. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
'Some of that is really just coincidence, how it's played out at that position,' he said. 'We want to get good players, good people.'
Advertisement
One thing the trade doesn't mean: the Steelers aren't tanking. Khan made that abundantly clear, and expect a move to be made to backfill the wide receiver position.
'We're chasing a championship,' he said. 'Every decision we make is based on trying to win a championship, not only the future, but this year. We're focused on trying to win a championship this year. … There's a lot of time between now and the start of the season.'
STEELERS PRACTICE REPORT: KHAN ON PICKENS TRADE, ROOKIE CAMP REACTION
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Omar Khan Explains Why Steelers Moved On from George Pickens
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Broncos predicted to get off to hot start but who gives them their first loss?
Broncos predicted to get off to hot start but who gives them their first loss? originally appeared on The Sporting News The Denver Broncos are a team many see as one of the better teams in the AFC this coming season, and the schedule set up nicely for them in the first month, with the Tennessee Titans and Indianapolis Colts to start the season. Ali Bhanpuri and Adam Rank, two analysts over at recently made game-by-game picks for each team in the league. Broncos Country will love the thoughts of each of them. Bhanpuri has the Broncos finishing 11-6 on the season and becoming the AFC's top wild card. Rank does him one better, putting the Broncos at 12-5, winning the AFC West, and becoming the No. 2 seed in the AFC. Looking at things from a different perspective, John Breech of CBS Sports decided to predict when each team would lose its first game of the season. Breech has the Broncos getting off to a 3-0 start with wins over the Titans, Colts and on the road over the Los Angeles Chargers. But he suggests that the team will come back home in Week 4 and suffer its first loss at the hands of the Cincinnati Bengals. "This might end up being the best game of Week 4. These two teams gave us a shootout last season and it won't be surprising if we get another one with the Bengals pulling off the road upset", wrote Breech. The Broncos and Bengals played in one of the best games of the 2024 season, going shot for shot with major playoff implications on the line. The Bengals won the game 30-24 in overtime, dealing a blow to the Broncos' playoff hopes while significantly helping their own. While the Broncos were the team that took the last playoff spot, many fans felt that the Bengals should have been there instead. The Broncos will still have that loss fresh in their minds for this one and will be seeking a measure of revenge. READ: Broncos backup QB making case for team to repeat recent history The Bengals are built just like they were last year, with a high-powered offense and a lackluster defense. The Broncos improved on both sides of the ball and could have one of the league's best defenses, so they should have the advantage in this game. MORE BRONCOS CONTENT Broncos predicted to cut one of the top players to hit this year's waiver wire 4 players Broncos must find a way to keep ahead of the 2025 season Broncos' 2024 draft pick looks like a sure cut ahead of final preseason game 4 Broncos players who should be worried about their roster spot ahead of second preseason game Broncos encouraged to cut productive third-year star before season starts
Yahoo
2 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Pasquantino and Witt back Lugo's stellar start, powering Royals to 5-2 win over Rangers
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Vinnie Pasquantino homered in the first inning and then scored the go-ahead run in the seventh when Jonathan India was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, helping the Kansas City Royals to a 5-2 win over the Texas Rangers on Tuesday night. Bobby Witt Jr. added a two-run shot in the eighth for his 100th career homer, and Mike Yastrzemski went deep for the Royals, who have won five straight and improved to 7-1 on their season-high 10-game homestand. Rangers reliever Hoby Milner (1-3) allowed three consecutive hits to start the seventh, including Pasquantino's double. Cole Winn then entered the game and hit India with his first pitch, giving Kansas City its first lead of the game. Angel Zerpa (4-1) got five outs for the Royals before John Schreiber took care of the ninth for his first save. Royals starter Seth Lugo and Rangers counterpart Merrill Kelly had matched each other pitch-for-pitch for most of the night. Lugo surrendered a homer to Corey Seager with two outs in the first, then allowed one more hit before Joc Pederson's homer in the fourth. Those were the only three hits that Lugo allowed, and he walked two while striking out five. Kelly gave up the homer to Pasquantino, which just scraped over the right-field wall, with two outs in the first. He did not allow another hit until Yastrzemski's shot into the right-field bullpen with two outs in the sixth. Those were the only two hits Kelly allowed over six innings. He struck out three without a walk. Key moment Jonah Heim led off the eighth for Texas with a single, but Zerpa got pinch-hitter Cody Freeman to ground into a double play. Key stat Kansas City is 5-0 against the Rangers this season. Up next The Rangers have not announced their starter for Wednesday after disclosing pregame that RHP Jacob deGrom would skip a turn due to shoulder fatigue. LHP Noah Cameron (7-5, 2.47 ERA) is due on the mound for Kansas City. ___ AP MLB:
Yahoo
2 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Noelvi Marte's solo home run (10)
Noelvi Marte crushes a solo home run to center field, his 10th homer of the season, tying the game at 1 in the top of the 2nd inning
