Freiermuth: DK Metcalf, George Pickens Will Cause ‘A Lot of Conflict’
Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth thinks wide receivers DK Metcalf and George Pickens will cause problems for opposing defenses.
The Pittsburgh Steelers finally have the wide receiver duo they’ve been searching for after trading for DK Metcalf this offseason. Tight end Pat Freiermuth thinks Metcalf and wide receiver George Pickens will be a handful to deal with.
“I’ve talked to (Pickens) a decent amount this offseason. GP’s a great guy. He’s good to have in the locker room. Obviously, stuff happens on the field, but that’s just part of football and being a competitor. He cares. He tries a lot. He works hard. He’s a hell of a talent as well,” Freiermuth said on “The Kaboly + Mack Show.” “So having him and DK on the outside, obviously with me in the middle of the field, is gonna cause defenses a lot of conflict. … I know GP is ready to work with DK, and GP is never shy of competition, so he’s gonna rely on DK for his advice and stuff like that. But GP’s ready to roll for sure.”
There’s no doubt that Metcalf and Pickens are clearly very talented after combining for 125 catches for 1,892 yards and eight touchdowns in 2024.
However, both players could cause more problems than just those for opposing defenses, according to Pro Football Focus analyst Trevor Sikkema.
“You also traded for the receiver (Metcalf) who, by far, leads the NFL in penalties for the position since he came into the league in 2019,” Sikkema said. “He has more than double the accepted penalties against him that the second-place guy has. By the way, the second-place guy is George Pickens.”
Metcalf and Pickens have both had the tendency to get heated when they don’t get the football, but they will have to learn to share now that they’re teaming up with one another.
Metcalf doesn’t see that being an issue, though. In fact, he thinks they can thrive together.
“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.”
The Steelers could still change their mind and trade Pickens if they’re able to land another wide receiver in the 2025 NFL Draft. But for now, it seems like it will be Metcalf and Pickens and whatever conflicts they bring.