Former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Plaxico Burress believes the Steelers got worse with the George Pickens trade, and that Pickens is a better player than DK Metcalf.
Burress broke down both of the top receivers’ games and says that when he is locked in, Pickens is by far the better player than Metcalf.
“How this hurts the Pittsburgh Steelers, they didn’t get any better,” Burress said. “I don’t believe, when it comes down to playing the position and playing the game of football, that DK Metcalf is a better wide receiver than George Pickens. I would not agree to that. We know that George Pickens, when he’s playing and he’s focused, he’s one of the top five ball players at the position. There’s no dispute in that. There’s no doubt about it, but we got to get the young man focused so he can reach his full potential and become one of these elite wide receivers in all of football.”
Pickens missed three games with a hamstring injury, dampening what looked to be a second-straight 1000-yard season with the third-year wide receiver.
He averaged 15.3 yards per reception with 59 receptions for 900 yards on the year. In each of the last two seasons, Pickens has eclipsed 15 yards per catch and 900 yards as the focus of the team’s passing offense.
A two-time Pro Bowler, Metcalf has shined with the Seahawks. Metcalf and the Steelers have also agreed to a five-year, $150 million deal. That is the richest deal in team history.