We use ads to fund this site and continue to bring you premium Steelers content. But, from Mike Wallace to Emmanuel Sanders to Antonio Brown to Martavis Bryant to JuJu Smith-Schuster toDiontae Johnson to Chase Claypool, no team in football has created a more prestigious lineage of Day 2 and Day 3 picks at receiver over the past two decades than the Steelers. Of course, I'm referencing the Steelers and the fact that they haven't picked a receiver in Round 1 since Santonio Holmes was selected in 2006 (the Packers, more famously, haven't picked a first-round receiver since 2002). But let's go inside what Pickens did in his unique career at Georgia that indicated he was ready to not just make the jump to the NFL but arrive on the scene as a wideout with instant star capabilities. #Steelers @937theFan, Josh Rowntree (@JRown32) November 21, 2022, At least they caught one of these late hits. What are the chances that he surpasses Diontae Johnson as WR1 at some point this season? Pickens arrived at Georgia as a five-star recruit who made his presence immediately known with 727 yards and eight touchdowns. George Pickens and the NFL's Wide Receiver Factory The Steelers always find success with mid-round wideouts, so it's no surprise that Pickens is getting plenty of attention this preseason By. Pickens comes back to the football and uses his size and body to shield off Carter who tries to get a hand into knock away the pass as Pickens reels it in and continues to fight for extra yardage after the catch until being brought down out of bounds. Initially projected as a first-round draft. But this doesnt feel like the year to make it three straight seasons in a row with three-plus receivers in the top 20. Alabamas John Metchie III has some fans within the TDN Scouting Department as well. ESPN Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved. All Rights Reserved. pic.twitter.com/Ok4t5vPHFu, Josh Carney (@ByJoshCarney) October 2, 2022. These trios were all drafted within the first 17 selections of their respective drafts and represent the first instance of back-to-back seasons of three top-20 picks at wide receiver since 2014-2015. The NFL preseason already has a huge winner: Steelers wide receiver George Pickens. The cherry on top was how he adjusted to the slightly low and outside throw and watched it into his hands to make the grab. He's taken Steelers training camp by storm, and our very own Bryan Deardo recently documented Pickens' dominance at St. Vincent College this summer. However, it was rookie WR George Pickens who stole the show in this one, going over the century mark in his fourth regular season performance by catching six passes on eight targets for 102 yards (17.0 YPC). The Steelers stuck with offense for their second-round pick, selecting Georgia wide receiver George Pickens with the 52nd pick overall in the 2022 NFL Draft. However, he hasn't done much in the regular season as he looks to connect with Mitch Trubisky. George Malik Pickens Jr. Pickens said he was thrilled to get the call from the black and gold, not knowing where the future was going to lead him when the night began. When you go back and watch the tape on Pickens, you see a receiver that is becoming more comfortable in the offense with each passing week. Perhaps Purdues David Bell can make a leapor maybe we may see a perceived mid-round receiver make a leapbut the situation looks dire relative to the last two seasons for 2022. But the suddenness Pickens showcased there was special. 2005-2023 CBS INTERACTIVE ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. George Pickens is a 6-5, 199-pound Wide Receiver from Hoover, AL. 2022 Panini Luminance Malik Willis Year One Rookie Autograph Red Ink Auto RC. George Pickens caught two of his four targets for 29 yards in a 16-13 win over the Ravens in Week 17. He caught 52 passes for 801 yards and four touchdowns. CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. On the vertical route tree, Pickens is a scary matchup. Please check your email for a confirmation. Comeback from the perimeter, catches the football then bends incredibly then dives for the score. But given the dynamics of the 2022 wide receiver class, his clear and obvious physical gifts, and some of the limitations weve seen in Smarts offense over the last few years, our group posed a simple question: Would coming back early from an ACL tear and risk re-injury be more beneficial to Pickens than opting to commit his time this fall to ensure a clean rehab process and then enrolling into the 2022 NFL Draft without having played this upcoming season? Pickens is, for my money, the most physically talented wide receiver eligible for the 2022 NFL Draft. 12:27 am ET, five-star recruit and the No. Pickens finished this season with 5 catches for 107 yards in four games, his 21.4 yards per catch average second on the team to Arian Smith, who had 3 catches for 102 yards (34 yards per catch). Mock Draft Machine Beta Testing Has Begun! Demands the football and can make the head-turning play seem routine. The Steelers have heard him loud and clear . Bigger than you think. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. George Pickens was a three-year contributor for the University of Georgia Bulldogs. [1] He played in the 2019 Under Armour All-American Game. If he had not torn his ACL coming into the 2021 season, this wouldn't even be a talking point. Early years [ edit] Pickens attended Hoover High School in Hoover, Alabama. Good, not great hands. Notice how Pickens kept his eyes on the quarterback the entire time. Pickens has been that dude for a while. I know training camp videos are all the rage right now. On this score against LSU and eventual No. It sure didnt feel like he needed to lead with the helmet here a simple tap with hand would have done the job but thats what he did: #Steelers WR George Pickens was ejected for this hit on Tyler Boyd after he recovered an onside kick: pic.twitter.com/OfGVDgl6of, Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) November 21, 2022, Dirty play by George Pickens there that's going to cost him some $$$$, Marcus Mosher (@Marcus_Mosher) November 21, 2022, Suspension or gtfo @NFL https://t.co/anuW9eMowK, SteelGuitarJunkie (@Johnson1980Aj) November 21, 2022, Took the officials 5 minutes to do it too do we really want to throw out a Steelers player? https://t.co/OSO65Js3Hp, Suspend him next week too. Listed at 6-3, 200 pounds, Pickens showed plenty of promise and potential for the. 3 receiver on this team behind Diontae Johnson and Chase Claypool." Well luckily for us fantasy managers . Personal: Full name: GEORGE M. PICKENSmajor: Housing Management & Policyrecipient of the A.J. Interview: Texas DL Keondre Coburn Talks Connection With Steelers DL Coach Karl Dunbar, Cam Heyward Remembers The Craziest Steelers Training Camp Fight He Ever Saw. Theres a lot of layers at play here for one of the 2022 NFL Drafts most physically gifted receiving prospects. All Rights Reserved. Though Pickens made his season debut in Georgia's November 27 regular season finale- eight months post-surgery his draft stock still took a dive. He's got size, ball skills, separation ability, contested-catch ability, and tremendous potential to continue to further build out his game as a true volume receiver at the NFL level. Not simply because he's tall and fast and entered college with the advanced skill of combating press coverage. Because as Coach Smart said: hes got a long career ahead of him. There are currently no upcoming games scheduled. It also lead to Steelers rookie wide receiver George Pickens being ejected from the game. Additionally, if you'd like to donate above and beyond the ad-free option, you can donate via PayPal as well. Young is credited with making the Wonderlic test part of the standard Scouting Combine experience, and Young also implemented a two-hour written test that was supposed to serve as a psychological assessment of prospective players. Be the Expert Draft Day Every Day! In addition to his height, the Georgia WR also possesses impressive length, allowing him to high point the ball. Highest-graded . 2020: A starter in all eight games in which he playedtied with K. Jackson for team receiving honors with 36 catches for 513 yards and a team-high six TDscaught seven passes for 135 yards, including a career-long 51-yarder,in Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl win over Cincinnatiseason-high eight receptions for 87 yards and a TD vs. Mississippi Statecaught a pair of TD passes in win at Missouri, including a key score with :37 left before halftimeteam-high five receptions for 53 yards vs. Alabamacaught four passes for 47 yards and the team's first TD of 2020, a 19-yarder, in Georgia's win at Arkansascaught two passes for 26 yards vs. Auburn, highlighted by a 21-yard TD catch in second quartercaught two more passes in win over Tennesseemissed the Kentucky game because of injurynamed to the pre-season watch list for the Fred BiletnikoffAward(nation's top WR)also Pre-Season All-SEC Second Team, as selected by the media covering the league. Does your team play "Golden State Warrior football?". Running-back like balance, vision and body control. All Rights Reserved. February 27, 2023 8:09 pm ET In 2022, Pittsburgh Steelers George Pickens burst onto the scene and immediately put the rest of the league on notice as to just how talented he is. From a potential standpoint, based on his frame and athleticism alone, Pickens is a weapon. Thats a decision I dont envy having to make. in 2019 for the Bulldogs. I say that because I am a big guy who runs low 4.4s. 50 pick in the 2022 NFL Draft out of Georgia has been wowing his teammates - as well as NFL observers. Now, you may be saying, "So cool for you to make that call. Reports indicate that Pickens has been rehabbing since surgery and appears to be ahead of schedule and Bulldogs coach Kirby Smart didnt rule out a 2021 return on the heels of the injury. 2022 Origins Rookie Stars Kenny Pickett George Pickens Dual RPA Booklet /49 Auto. Pickens led Pittsburgh in yards per reception (15.4) while his . Dirty play, no question. At 6'3 1/4 and 195 pounds, Pickens is a bit wiry, but from a skills and traits aspect, he checks every single box. The College Football Playoff may be on the road to expansion, but there will still be just four teams that make the dance this season. The Georgia WR's scouting report contains plenty to love about his ability to play the position. But Pickens is still the No. Big, physical play-maker who can overwhelm a defender before or after the catch. What was a pleasant surprise in Week 4 was the change in George Pickens route tree and his usage more all over the field rather than running basic go routes and fades. Sure, Stingley had outside leverage, which allowed for Pickens to sneak inside. Bengals defenders shade Tom Brady in top NFL quotes of the week, DeAndre Hopkins and Matthew Judon show out; more notable NFL Week 14 arrivals, Steelers WR Pickens addresses sideline outburst, Tomlin OK with WR Pickens' outburst over role, Aaron Judge reps Mike Evans and more notable NFL Week 13 arrivals, Taylor Heinicke pays tribute to UVA, Najee Harris rocks plaid suit and more NFL Week 12 arrivals, 17 NFL experts make second-half predictions: Surprise playoff runs, Super Bowl picks, breakouts, 'OMG PICKENS': Steelers rookie George Pickens takes over NFL Twitter with incredible one-handed catch, Steelers rookie George Pickens catches it like Beckham to set up first touchdown. He played in the 2019 Under Armour All-American Game. Pickens is, for my money, the most physically talented wide receiver eligible for the 2022 NFL Draft. Didnt play. He played under Head Coach Kirby Smart during. Didnt play. 'We didn't score enough points is the bottom line': How can the Steelers' offense move forward? 2021 Georgia Bulldogs footballconsensus national champions, 2022 College Football Playoff National Championship, "George Pickens' 'flair for the dramatic' established before buzzworthy Georgia football moment", "Ala. players Will Reichard, George Pickens will take their swag to the Under Armour game", "5-star Hoover WR George Pickens picks Georgia", "What the addition of five-star wide receiver George Pickens means for Georgia", "George Pickens is Potentially UGA's biggest draft bust of all time", "He was an Auburn commit. Based on the Steelers track record with picking wideouts, we should have realized this immediately when his named was called when they went on the clock in Round 2. Furthermore, his predicted 40 time of 4.51 is at the league average. George Young, the longtime General Manager of the Giants, was famous for his obsession with testing players. 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