‘Made Themselves A Worse Soccer Crew:’ Craig Carton Vital Of Steelers Buying and selling Pickens

The Pittsburgh Steelers might have rid themselves of a headache in George Pickens. Addition by subtraction. However the Steelers nonetheless should discover the precise method to interchange what Pickens provided on the sphere and it’s arduous to imagine they’ll be a extra productive offensive unit post-trade. FOX Sports activities’ Craig Carton was fast to take the staff to process for the transfer.

“I raised my hand once they made the commerce. I don’t get the commerce,” Carton mentioned Wednesday on Breakfast Ball. “And I do know he’s been, had points, been fined, 100 instances between the NFL and the Steelers internally. They made themselves a worse soccer staff this yr.”

A good take from Carton. Pickens was clearly tough to handle. What’s public is regarding sufficient. The penalties, the fines, displaying up late to video games, and tape that confirmed clear low-effort moments. It’s truthful to surprise the tales that exist behind the scenes, the issues Mike Tomlin was in a position to hold underneath wraps.

However soccer is a results-oriented enterprise. On Sundays, Pickens introduced loads of outcomes. Regardless of the staff’s public confidence, neither Roman Wilson nor Calvin Austin III will produce like he did or at least, gained’t win the identical manner Pickens gained throughout his three-year Steelers tenure. Since he was drafted in 2022, Pickens had extra receptions of 20-plus yards (56) then the following four-closest Steelers mixed (53).

Sharing the identical thought as present Steelers like Beanie Bishop Jr. and former ones like QB Ben Roethlisberger, Craig Carton noticed the enchantment of a passing sport dominated by DK Metcalf and Pickens.

“Why wouldn’t you need two nice vast receivers?” he mentioned. “The commerce made no sense, but it surely additionally tells me a lot extra went on behind-the-scenes that we’re not aware about.”

These behind-the-scenes causes are precisely why Pickens is gone, along with him being on the final yr of his rookie deal. Pittsburgh wasn’t going to re-sign him and landed a assured 2026 draft choose for him as a substitute of a 2027 choice. Carton’s critiques are truthful, although he answered his personal query as to why Pickens was dealt. Time will inform if the Steelers can show him incorrect.