With the 52nd pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, the Pittsburgh Steelers drafted George Pickens Jr., a wide receiver from Georgia.Pickens’ pre-draft reputation fell after an ACL tear in March 2021, which dropped him more than expected in the draft. He missed most of the 2021 season due to that injury, but he recovered in time to play a vital role in Georgia’s National Championship victory at the end of the season. Pickens showed his fitness during his Georgia Pro Day, winning over Mike Tomlin, the head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers, and other team members.
Of the seven draftees the Steelers picked in the 2022 draft, Pickens was one of the first four signed to NFL contracts.
George Pickens inked a four-year, $6.75 million contract with Pittsburgh, which has a $2.09 million signing bonus and $3.1 million in total guaranteed money. According to Spotrac, the second-round selection will also be paid average annual salary of $1.68 million for the course of his rookie deal.Pickens’ second NFL season (2023) is expected to bring in $1.011 million in fully guaranteed salary. Over the final two years of the deal, he will get $1.318 million and $1.625 million, respectively.Despite playing in just 24 games over the course of three seasons, Pickens caught 90 passes for 1,347 yards and 14 touchdowns with the Georgia Bulldogs.
