Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens ranked himself above all other NFL pass catchers entering the 2023 season as he believes he’s ready for a breakout campaign
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens needs at least 1,800 receiving yards this year to back up his latest brash claim. The second-year pro said this week that he’s the best in the NFL at his position, but it will take a lot to prove he’s better than Minnesota Vikings star Justin Jefferson, widely seen as the current No. 1 downfield threat.
Jefferson caught 128 passes for a league-high 1,809 yards in 2022. Pickens put in a solid rookie campaign, hauling in 52 receptions for 801 yards and four scores. Still, the 22-year-old remains well behind many receivers in on-field production, his yardage ranking 38th in the NFL.
“The stuff that I do, bro, I feel like I’m the best in the whole world,” Pickens told The Ringer. “I’m big, I’m fast, low 4.4 [speed]. Catch radius is crazy. So every time I get out on the field, I do kind of play angry because I should get the ball on every play if you just look at the size and the frame. If I was a coach, I’d just throw to him every time.
“But that’s not how the NFL works. So every time I’m out there, that’s why I throw the blocks. I love getting the ball, and when I’m not getting the ball I play angry so the attention is back on me. I basically draw attention to myself.”