Steelers' George Pickens: I Can 'Thrive More' After Russell Wilson, Fields Additions

George Pickens seems nothing short of ecstatic about the Pittsburgh Steelers' new quarterback room.

The third-year wideout says he looks forward to his numbers improving with Russell Wilson or Justin Fields at quarterback next season.

"I can only go off of how the quarterback plays. I can thrive more," Pickens told Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "The yardage showed it. I should have made the Pro Bowl."

Pickens made 63 receptions for 1,140 yards and five touchdowns in 2023. His performances had a high variance on a week-to-week basis, with Pickens posting as many 100-yard games as contests where he produced 25 yards or less (five).

The Steelers overhauled their quarterback depth chart this offseason, trading Kenny Pickett to the Philadelphia Eagles and allowing Mason Rudolph to leave in free agency. They inked Wilson to a one-year contract after his release by the Denver Broncos and made a shrewd deal to acquire Fields from the Chicago Bears after his trade market bottomed out.

Pittsburgh also hired former Atlanta Falcons coach Arthur Smith as its new offensive coordinator. Pickens said he was only able to showcase about 80 percent of his capabilities under former coordinator Matt Canada and with Pickett and Rudolph throwing him the ball.

The Steelers traded Diontae Johnson in the offseason, handing the WR1 duties over to Pickens, so they're clearly hoping he can tap into that extra 20 percent in 2024.