DK Metcalf Thinks He and George Pickens Can Thrive Together
One way or another, DK Metcalf and George Pickens could put on a show as a one-two punch for a Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback to be named later. Social media users quickly put together highlight packages after the Steelers traded for Metcalf on Sunday night.
Most of the clips have nothing to do with the plays either has made. Rather, examples of retaliation on defenders are entwined.
Metcalf shoving Cincinnati’s Cam Taylor-Britt to the turf. Pickens yanking Dallas’ Jourdan Lewis to the ground by his facemask. Metcalf suplexing San Francisco’s Fred Warner, then chasing him down to confront him again right after. Pickens leaping up to stiff-arm Washington’s Benjamin St-Juste in his face.
Both receivers very obviously wear their emotions on their sleeves. The tandem has the talent to be no laughing matter once the season gets underway. Metcalf gave his thoughts on what the dynamic between the two might look like during his introductory press conference on Thursday.
“Football is the ultimate team game first off, so you shouldn’t be on a team if everybody doesn’t want the football,” Metcalf said. “I will say that. You know, just to come into this organization, just to know George from the little conversations that we had in passing, great player. I watched him from afar. The receivers coach calls him ‘Freak Show,’ and I think that’s a fitting name for him, you know, with the circus catches that he makes.”
How will DK Metcalf and George Pickens get along with the Steelers?
Metcalf is a two-time Pro Bowler headed into his seventh NFL season. He’s been targeted at least 100 times during each of his first six, all spent in Seattle. Pickens will be a fourth-year pro and has led the Steelers in receiving the last two seasons.
Despite being the more veteran of the two, Metcalf said he believes Pickens can learn from him and vice versa. Metcalf listed receivers that he’s played alongside. That group includes Tyler Lockett, Freddie Swain, and Josh Gordon.
“I’ve been around some very talented receivers to where, you know, I know how to take a backseat and learn from guys like that,” Metcalf said.
The Steelers will have to decide whether the two even hit the field together. They could still choose to trade Pickens to restock draft picks, being that his contract is up after next season.