Cam Heyward on George Pickens trade: We could be a better team because of it
George Pickens was the Steelers' leading wide receiver the past two seasons. He just turned 24 and still is on his rookie contract, counting $3.656 million against the cap in 2025.
Yet, the Steelers traded him anyway.
Anytime Mike Tomlin trades a wide receiver, it's buyer beware.
The Steelers traded Santonio Holmes in 2010 for a fifth-rounder, Martavis Bryant in 2018 for a third-rounder, Antonio Brown in 2019 for third- and fifth-rounders, Chase Claypool in 2023 for a second-rounder, Diontae Johnson in 2024 for Donte Jackson and a pick swap and now Pickens for a third and a pick swap. None performed as well with their new team.
That was a point Steelers defensive lineman Cameron Heyward made on his Not Just Football Pod.
'I think we've got to look at the track record of trading wide receivers,' Heyward said. 'There's been some good history behind this and when to do it, what to expect. I was looking at a stat. There's only been like three or four receivers that made it past the rookie contracts with the Steelers. It's crazy.
'You had AB; you had Diontae Johnson; you had Hines Ward; I think you had JuJu [Smith-Schuster] for another year. For the most part, they know when to re-sign and when to trade, and we'll see what happens. We could be a better team because of it.'
Heyward woke up to the news like everyone else did May 7.
He called it a surprise, though the Steelers appeared done with Pickens when they traded a second-round pick to the Seahawks and invested a five-year, $150 million contract in receiver DK Metcalf.
'I didn't know anything about it. . . . I woke up the next morning, and he had been traded,' Heyward said. 'Was I surprised? Yeah, but the game is the game. I know it benefits both teams. We get another third-round pick. They get a wide receiver to go along with CeeDee Lamb. Would I have liked to see George and DK play together? Yeah, but hopefully there's something in the works. I don't know.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Jordan Love "can't wait" to face Aaron Rodgers when Packers play Steelers
The Packers visit the Steelers on Sunday Night Football in Week Eight, and Green Bay quarterback Jordan Love already has his meeting with Pittsburgh quarterback Aaron Rodgers circled on his calendar. 'It's going to be fun. It's going to be awesome. I'm excited for it,' Love told Jason Wilde of 'I can't wait to be on different sides, meeting up, and I know we'll talk pre-game, things like that. And hopefully we can exchange jerseys after.' Advertisement Green Bay drafted Love in the first round in 2020, and Love stood on the sideline and watched as Rodgers had MVP seasons in both 2020 and 2021. But after three years as Rodgers' backup, Love got to become the Packers' starter when Rodgers was traded to the Jets in 2023. It was similar to Rodgers' own experience backing up Brett Favre for his first three NFL seasons. 'I appreciate definitely the way A-Rod handled being in that situation, and I think a big part of it — which he told me — was he knew how it was for him being in that same position, and the things that he went through and the way the situation might've been handled [differently],' Love said. 'I think his perspective was, 'I'm trying to go about this a little bit differently,' which I think was awesome. In my time with A-Rod, we had a great relationship. It was awesome being in the same room with him, being able to learn. He was amazing with everything. And I definitely appreciate the way he handled everything on the outside with obviously him leaving and me taking over, and he's been very supportive of me [since]. It definitely helped with some of the negativity that might've come with that. But A-Rod handled it like a pro and did very right by me.' Love said he thinks Rodgers will do well in Pittsburgh. 'I was excited for A-Rod. I don't think I was too surprised,' Love said. 'I feel like there were a lot of rumors going on throughout the whole offseason about him going to the Steelers. I was excited for him, that he was obviously coming back and going to be playing. There were also some rumors that he might be done, so just knowing he's going to keep playing, that's pretty awesome.' But in Week Eight, Love is hoping to out-play Rodgers and earn the Packers a win over their longtime franchise quarterback.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Jordan Love "can't wait" to face Aaron Rodgers when Packers play Steelers
The Packers visit the Steelers on Sunday Night Football in Week Eight, and Green Bay quarterback Jordan Love already has his meeting with Pittsburgh quarterback Aaron Rodgers circled on his calendar. 'It's going to be fun. It's going to be awesome. I'm excited for it,' Love told Jason Wilde of 'I can't wait to be on different sides, meeting up, and I know we'll talk pre-game, things like that. And hopefully we can exchange jerseys after.' Advertisement Green Bay drafted Love in the first round in 2020, and Love stood on the sideline and watched as Rodgers had MVP seasons in both 2020 and 2021. But after three years as Rodgers' backup, Love got to become the Packers' starter when Rodgers was traded to the Jets in 2023. It was similar to Rodgers' own experience backing up Brett Favre for his first three NFL seasons. 'I appreciate definitely the way A-Rod handled being in that situation, and I think a big part of it — which he told me — was he knew how it was for him being in that same position, and the things that he went through and the way the situation might've been handled [differently],' Love said. 'I think his perspective was, 'I'm trying to go about this a little bit differently,' which I think was awesome. In my time with A-Rod, we had a great relationship. It was awesome being in the same room with him, being able to learn. He was amazing with everything. And I definitely appreciate the way he handled everything on the outside with obviously him leaving and me taking over, and he's been very supportive of me [since]. It definitely helped with some of the negativity that might've come with that. But A-Rod handled it like a pro and did very right by me.' Love said he thinks Rodgers will do well in Pittsburgh. 'I was excited for A-Rod. I don't think I was too surprised,' Love said. 'I feel like there were a lot of rumors going on throughout the whole offseason about him going to the Steelers. I was excited for him, that he was obviously coming back and going to be playing. There were also some rumors that he might be done, so just knowing he's going to keep playing, that's pretty awesome.' But in Week Eight, Love is hoping to out-play Rodgers and earn the Packers a win over their longtime franchise quarterback.
NBC Sports
4 hours ago
- NBC Sports
Jordan Love "can't wait" to face Aaron Rodgers when Packers play Steelers
The Packers visit the Steelers on Sunday Night Football in Week Eight, and Green Bay quarterback Jordan Love already has his meeting with Pittsburgh quarterback Aaron Rodgers circled on his calendar. 'It's going to be fun. It's going to be awesome. I'm excited for it,' Love told Jason Wilde of 'I can't wait to be on different sides, meeting up, and I know we'll talk pre-game, things like that. And hopefully we can exchange jerseys after.' Green Bay drafted Love in the first round in 2020, and Love stood on the sideline and watched as Rodgers had MVP seasons in both 2020 and 2021. But after three years as Rodgers' backup, Love got to become the Packers' starter when Rodgers was traded to the Jets in 2023. It was similar to Rodgers' own experience backing up Brett Favre for his first three NFL seasons. 'I appreciate definitely the way A-Rod handled being in that situation, and I think a big part of it — which he told me — was he knew how it was for him being in that same position, and the things that he went through and the way the situation might've been handled [differently],' Love said. 'I think his perspective was, 'I'm trying to go about this a little bit differently,' which I think was awesome. In my time with A-Rod, we had a great relationship. It was awesome being in the same room with him, being able to learn. He was amazing with everything. And I definitely appreciate the way he handled everything on the outside with obviously him leaving and me taking over, and he's been very supportive of me [since]. It definitely helped with some of the negativity that might've come with that. But A-Rod handled it like a pro and did very right by me.' Love said he thinks Rodgers will do well in Pittsburgh. 'I was excited for A-Rod. I don't think I was too surprised,' Love said. 'I feel like there were a lot of rumors going on throughout the whole offseason about him going to the Steelers. I was excited for him, that he was obviously coming back and going to be playing. There were also some rumors that he might be done, so just knowing he's going to keep playing, that's pretty awesome.' But in Week Eight, Love is hoping to out-play Rodgers and earn the Packers a win over their longtime franchise quarterback.
