"Worst roster of the Mike Tomlin era": NFL insider goes scorched earth on Steelers trading George Pickens

On Wednesday morning, Pittsburgh Steelers star wide receiver George Pickens was traded to the Dallas Cowboys in exchange for draft picks. Shortly after the news was made public, NFL insider Matt Miller provided a bold statement on X regarding the current state of the iconic Steelers franchise.

"This is the worst Steelers roster of the Mike Tomlin era." Miller stated.

According to ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter, Pickens and a 2027 sixth round pick will be heading to Dallas in exchange for a 2026 3rd round pick and a 2027 5th round pick.

Although the news is notable and somewhat surprising, many fans and analysts questioned whether Pickens would find a new home prior to the 2025 campaign given the arrival of superstar wide receiver DK Metcalf from the Seattle Seahawks. This offseason, the Steelers traded for Metcalf and signed him to an extension that sees him earning among the very best at the wide receiver position.

Will the Pittsburgh Steelers make the playoffs in 2025?

The Steelers are currently one of the more interesting teams in the National Football League, given their unique situations at various key offensive positions. The organization drafted Ohio State Buckeyes QB Will Howard in the sixth round of the selection process and added Iowa Hawkeyes running back Kaleb Johnson in the third round.

Although Howard may have a future as a starter in the league in the future, it is widely expected that the Ohio State QB will not be starting in 2025 for the Steelers. Since the end of last campaign, Aaron Rodgers has been rumored to join the Steelers organization, however, nothing has officially been signed or announced at this time.

Despite Miller's claims, the Steelers still have one of the best defensive units in the NFL, one of the best head coaches in the entire league in Mike Tomlin, an elite wide receiver in DK Metcalf, and an interesting running back dynamic in Johnson and Jaylen Warren. Although Pickens is no longer a member of the Pittsburgh roster, it feels premature to label this Steelers roster the worst of the Mike Tomlin era.