Aaron Rodgers' ex-teammate questions Steelers' strategy days after George Pickens trade to Cowboys
Days after the Pittsburgh Steelers drastically changed their offensive unit by trading away wide receiver George Pickens, former NFL player Greg Jennings discussed whether he believed the Steelers were in a better or worse position.
Jennings played with free agent quarterback and potential new Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers while in Green Bay, forming a strong connection during that time. On the "Breakfast Ball" show on Wednesday, Jennings made clear that Pickens, though sometimes difficult to deal with, was one of the most productive players on the Steelers during his tenure.
"As it pertains to locker room morale and what you want in a player, as far as if he's going to be your guy, the face of your offense ... he was one of your most productive guys offensively," Jennings said. "You don't want that aspect out there, the way he carries himself, all those things, whatever, as far as on the field, man, he was their best guy."
Jennings highlighted how he did not think the Steelers were in a better place right now than before the trade.
"Sitting from outside that locker room. Look, man, no, they did not get better," he said.
In three seasons with the Steelers, Pickens averaged 58 receptions, 947 receiving yards and four receiving touchdowns per season. However, he was also involved in some immature situations on the field, including throwing his helmet after a missed penalty and getting involved in a fight mid-play with a Cleveland Browns defensive player on the last snap with the Steelers needing a touchdown.
Pittsburgh Steelers 2025 outlook
The Steelers' offensive unit now features a similar group of players as in 2024, with one of the only major changes being D.K. Metcalf now being the WR1 and not Pickens. The franchise traded for and signed Metcalf to a long-term deal, something that hinted at Pickens' time with the club coming to an end sooner rather than later.
The Steelers still require a quarterback to unlock their offense, just as they have needed over the past couple of seasons. Although they are a solid team that consistently makes the playoffs, they have struggled to make it past the first round, largely due to poor QB play.
In 2024, the combination of Russell Wilson and Justin Fields averaged only 192.0 passing yards per game, a value that ranked No. 27 in the NFL last year. Although Aaron Rodgers has been rumored to join the team this offseason, nothing has been confirmed as of this time, something that makes the Steelers a team to watch.