There was a point last season when Mike Tomlin had to sit George Pickens down—not for a playbook chat, but for a maturity talk. The cryptic “free me” posts, the social media unfollow spree, and that weird energy on the sidelines? It piled up. Add the lazy block on Warren’s big run and the “fake tough guy” chirp at Newsome, and suddenly, Tomlin’s patience started wearing real thin.

And amidst this, a contract extension for the wideout was brewing that the Steelers have to address. But then came the DK Metcalf splash. Five years, $150M, $60M guaranteed—yeah, that kind of move. The Steelers don’t usually throw that kind of bag unless they’re all-in. So, if you’re already paying a star wideout like that, it’s hard to see them also betting big on Pickens, especially one who’s still working through the whole “leadership and maturity” part of the job.

Now’s the big question: will the Steelers enhance Pickens’ contract? That’s the messy part. Ahead of the draft, the rumor mill was buzzing that Pittsburgh is not interested in offering another contract to their fourth-year wideout. Fast forward to now, and the trade rumors are still buzzing. And to make it spicier, Gerry Dulac just shed light on this situation.

On Sunday, Dular appeared on the Rich Eisen Show and reported, “I do not expect him to be here beyond this year. They will not give him a second contract. They have until November if they want to trade him.” The Steelers drafted Pickens in the second round with the 52nd overall pick in the 2022 NFL draft.

The 24-year-old wideout was named the Steelers’ WR1 last season, and let’s just say the guy had a notable season. In 12 starts, Pickens had 59 receptions for 900 yards and three trips to the end zone. However, his off-field drama made louder noise than his on-field performance. And here we are. Folks out there believe that the Steelers will trade Pickens before the start of the 2025 season. The interesting part?

Well, Dulac believes that the Steelers could trade up in the 2026 NFL draft to pick a top-tier QB, because, you know, they ain’t got one for years. And that’s where a trade for Pickens comes in. “They have a plan (for picking a QB) and yes, they will have to make a package and trade up in the first round,” Dulac noted. “That’s where someone like George Pickens comes into play. Or, who knows, maybe someone else who is very marketable.”

All in all, while Pickens is hoping to stay in Pittsburgh, Mike Tomlin and Co. might not be interested in enhancing his contract. But on the flip side, it surely seems like the Steelers did a fine job with their UDFA class this year.

Mike Tomlin and Co. got a pretty good UDFA class

The Steelers’ UDFA class in the past few years has been a mixed bag. They have snagged a few UDFA gems like Jaylen Warren, sure. But let’s be real—overall, their UDFA haul’s been pretty underwhelming. A big reason? They barely spend. The Steelers ranked 31st in UDFA signing bonus spending in 2023, dropping just $41,500 total—only the Bengals spent less. In 2022, they were 30th. So yeah, while they found a steal in Jaylen Warren, most top UDFAs go where the money is.

However, this year seems different. According to Alex Kozora of the Steelers Depot, the Steelers have the same strategy this year, but the results are very much better. The reason? A deep draft class, all thanks to players extending for one more year in their collegiate career. The few intriguing undrafted free agents for the Steelers include WR Roc Taylor, safety Sebastian Castro, TE JJ Galbreath, OL Aiden Williams, and FB DJ Thomas-Jones.

Kozora believes that “Taylor is a well-built receiver with a productive career at Memphis.” And why not? The guy went over 1,000 yards in 2023 before almost doing it again the last season as well, with 950 yards. Then there’s Castro, and as per Kozora, he’s “a hard hitter who plays with all-out effort.”

On the flip side, Kozora also addressed the signing of Galbreath, whom he described as a “new age move tight end with smooth-route running and the ability to track and find the football.” Last but not least, we’ve the OL, Aiden Williams, who is an athletic tackle with good size. We’re talking 6’5” tall, who weighs over 300 pounds. No wonder the Steelers showed interest in him. Safe to say, this year’s UDFA crop might’ve hit different. And we’ll find that out in a few months.