As the Pittsburgh Steelers approached the end of their OTAs, we learned of NFL news that soon became a trending topic. Justin Jefferson has signed a contract extension with the Minnesota Vikings, and it is every bit as profitable as we could have hoped. On June 3rd, ESPN’s Adam Schefter announced that Jefferson had officially signed a four-year contract with the Vikings worth $140 million. This deal agreement includes $110 million in guarantees, which corresponds to a significant $35 million per season in new money average.
Jefferson, the former 22nd overall pick by the Vikings in 2020, has been utterly dominant since he arrived in the NFL, and nobody will say that he doesn’t deserve to be the highest-paid receiver in the game. Unfortunately, resetting the WR market creates a dilemma that the Pittsburgh Steelers will need to deal with next offseason.
Steelers will have a tough decision with George Pickens
Despite being at the mercy of suspect quarterback play and the questionable play design of OC Matt Canada, George Pickens earned a breakout season in 2023. In Year 2, Pickens managed to record 1,140 yards and 5 touchdowns on an impressive 10.8 yards per target.
While Pittsburgh’s quarterbacks have had among the lowest passer ratings over the last two seasons, Kenny Pickett, Mason Rudolph, and Mitch Trubisky combined for a passer rating of above 100 in 2022 and 2023 when throwing to Pickens. The future appears bright. However, the Steelers already have an issue with their young receiver. When things don’t go Pickens’ way, the rookie wide receiver struggles to keep his emotions under control. Some have accused him of ‘dropping out’ of the game, and videos of his blocking attempts (or lack thereof) went viral during the 2023 season.
