Cam Heyward on George Pickens trade: We could be a better team because of it

George Pickens was the Steelers' leading wide receiver the past two seasons. He just turned 24 and still is on his rookie contract, counting $3.656 million against the cap in 2025.

Yet, the Steelers traded him anyway.

Anytime Mike Tomlin trades a wide receiver, it's buyer beware.

The Steelers traded Santonio Holmes in 2010 for a fifth-rounder, Martavis Bryant in 2018 for a third-rounder, Antonio Brown in 2019 for third- and fifth-rounders, Chase Claypool in 2023 for a second-rounder, Diontae Johnson in 2024 for Donte Jackson and a pick swap and now Pickens for a third and a pick swap. None performed as well with their new team.

That was a point Steelers defensive lineman Cameron Heyward made on his Not Just Football Pod.

I think we've got to look at the track record of trading wide receivers," Heyward said. There's been some good history behind this and when to do it, what to expect. I was looking at a stat. There's only been like three or four receivers that made it past the rookie contracts with the Steelers. It's crazy.

You had AB; you had Diontae Johnson; you had Hines Ward; I think you had JuJu [Smith-Schuster] for another year. For the most part, they know when to re-sign and when to trade, and we'll see what happens. We could be a better team because of it."

Heyward woke up to the news like everyone else did May 7.

He called it a surprise, though the Steelers appeared done with Pickens when they traded a second-round pick to the Seahawks and invested a five-year, $150 million contract in receiver DK Metcalf.

"I didn't know anything about it. . . . I woke up the next morning, and he had been traded," Heyward said. "Was I surprised? Yeah, but the game is the game. I know it benefits both teams. We get another third-round pick. They get a wide receiver to go along with CeeDee Lamb. Would I have liked to see George and DK play together? Yeah, but hopefully there's something in the works. I don't know."