The Denver Broncos have made solid progress in addressing the concerns head coach Sean Payton pointed out before the offseason kicked off. However, there’s still more work to be done, and part of that could involve pursuing a trade for another standout star.
The Veteran was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers with the 52nd overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.
After the Steelers traded for D.K. Metcalf from the Seattle Seahawks and signed him to a contract worth $30 million per year, Pickens’ role with the team has become uncertain.
“Denver has remained surprisingly quiet when it comes to adding offensive playmakers—something many expected to be their main focus this offseason,” Mason Cameron of Pro Football Focus wrote on March 20. “With Evan Engram standing out as their most significant addition so far, this could suggest the front office is looking beyond free agency for help. While they might target someone in the draft, a trade seems like another strong possibility.
Enter George Pickens.”
This trade proposal from Heavy Sports outlines a deal that could bring George Pickens to Denver, aligning with the rumored asking price mentioned by Paul Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette during his appearance on 93.7 The Fan.
Broncos receive:
- George Pickens
Steelers receive:
- 2025 third-round pick (No. 85 overall)
Pickens hauled in 59 receptions for 900 yards and three touchdowns for Pittsburgh in 2024.
The 6-foot-3 receiver has consistently posted over 50 catches, 800 yards, and at least three touchdowns in each season since joining the NFL.
Pittsburgh might push for Denver’s second-round pick at No. 51 overall. That scenario could be more feasible if the Broncos opt to trade back from their current No. 20 selection in the first round of the draft.
Courtland Sutton’s Contract Situation Looms Large Over Broncos Amid George Pickens Trade Idea
Cameron highlights the addition and lucrative extension of D.K. Metcalf—along with a potential new contract for T.J. Watt—as key factors increasing the likelihood that George Pickens could be on the trade block.
Interestingly, if the Broncos were to acquire Pickens, they’d be placing the talented but unpredictable former Georgia standout into a situation not unlike his current one. He’d be joining a receiving corps that includes Courtland Sutton, one of the team’s established veterans. As Cameron pointed out, Sutton turns 30 in October and is entering the final year of his contract.
“Denver could look to get younger by bringing in Pickens,” Cameron wrote.
Court doing Court things.
📺: CBS pic.twitter.com/vL3gKKtRRS
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) October 13, 2024
Both Pickens and Sutton have similar playing styles, with each ranking above the 78th percentile in average depth of target over the past three seasons. However, there’s a notable gap when it comes to their success against single coverage—Pickens ranks in the 74th percentile during that span, while Sutton sits at the 47th percentile.
“At the NFL Combine in February, head coach Sean Payton addressed Courtland Sutton’s future, saying, ‘Those conversations will happen between [Broncos GM] George Paton and Courtland’s representatives. We thought he had a really good season. He’s a key part of what we’re building. But now’s probably not the time for those talks.’”
Paton echoed similar sentiments.
“Courtland’s one of our core guys—a team captain,” Paton told reporters. “I’ve said it the last couple of years: we want him here. We’ll have those conversations when the time is right. We’re planning to meet with his agent, just like we do with all the players’ reps.”
This uncertainty surrounding Sutton’s future isn’t the only reason a trade for a veteran wide receiver might not be in the cards for Denver, despite their acknowledged need at the position.
Sean Payton Believes in Broncos’ Young WRs
Sean Payton’s remarks about the Broncos’ current group of receivers have provided insight into how the team is approaching the position this offseason.
“I think adding a veteran wide receiver falls under the category of a ‘need,’” Payton said during an appearance on Up & Adams with Kay Adams back in February. “But I also think we’re stronger at that spot than people might believe. Devaughn Vele, Troy Franklin—there are several receivers we drafted last year, including Marvin Mims.”
Pickens is still young enough to align with the Broncos’ current roster-building strategy.
However, giving up the assets likely required to acquire him might go against the methodical, value-driven approach Denver has adopted in their effort to return to contention.
