Draft night has arrived for the Kansas City Chiefs and there are a lot of interesting storylines to follow. The Chiefs are slated to select toward the back end of the first round with the 31st overall pick. But they may have an ace up their sleeve with a surprising draft night trade.
One of the areas they could look for an upgrade is at receiver with Rashee Rice recovering from injury and Hollywood Brown and Xavier Worthy serving secondary roles. But if Kansas City wants to add another weapon for Patrick Mahomes, a potential target may have signaled he’s looking for a new team on Thursday afternoon.
George Pickens Unfollows the Steelers on Instagram Amid Chiefs Trade Rumors
Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports reports that Pittsburgh Steelers receiver George Pickens is on the trading block ahead of this weekend’s draft. Schultz adds that Pickens “is more than available” as the Steelers don’t want to pay another receiver after trading for and signing DK Metcalf to a four-year, $131.9 million contract extension this offseason.
Many times these reports are just rumors. But Pickens added another layer to the drama on Thursday afternoon when he unfollowed the Steelers on Instagram.
George Pickens has unfollowed the #Steelers on IG…. https://t.co/Hqn5S6RDVL pic.twitter.com/VrII6q4XaJ
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) April 24, 2025
Pickens would be an upgrade for the Chiefs offense as the Georgia alum has caught 174 passes for 2,841 yards and 12 touchdowns in his first three seasons. Those numbers may be suppressed due to the conservative nature of the Steelers’ offense, and Pickens would be walking into a more stable quarterback situation catching passes from Patrick Mahomes.
Top receivers coming to play with Mahomes doesn’t always have the desired impact (see DeAndre Hopkins) and Pickens’s mercurial personality makes any trade a risk. But wide receiver was a struggle for the Chiefs last season as it marked the second straight year without a 1,000-yard pass catcher. Kansas City also hasn’t had a 1,000-yard receiver since trading Tyreek Hill after the 2021 season.
As a player that turned 24 in March, Pickens may be worth the investment even as he would likely require a contract extension. But if the Chiefs want to make sure their passing attack gets back to its standards, it appears that Pickens is available.
