George Pickens vs Justin Jefferson Debate Heating Up
PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Steelers have a second-year wide receiver with some unreal talent. After an impressive rookie season, highlighted by big-time catches and praise from the team's star-studded secondary, George Pickens has taken his sophomore season by storm - and it's sparked an interesting debate.
During an appearance on NFL Live, former Steelers safety Ryan Clark, who recently visited Steelers training camp, made the statement that Pickens is more talented than All-Pro Justin Jefferson.
"I’m gonna say this as an LSU guy talking about another LSU guy and comparing him to a Georgia guy, George Pickens is much more talented than Justin Jefferson," Clark said. "Justin Jefferson understands playing everything at the position from stems, leverage, catching the ball, he’s a savant. But here’s the other thing, and Coach Tomlin told me something that I thought was great, he said they didn’t even work to tolerate him, and they certainly didn’t try to raise him at Georgia. They didn’t embrace who George Pickens is."
Clark didn't mean that Pickens is a better player than Jefferson, but rather that his raw talent exceeds that of the Minnesota Vikings' receiver.
Well, the topic didn't end there. Steelers cornerback Patrick Peterson, who played with Jefferson last season, was asked about the comparison. And, well, he agrees.
"I definitely can see it," Peterson said. "GP is very, very raw. He’s very unpredictable when the ball is coming his way in terms of catching ability. On my podcast, All Things Covered, the other day, I called his hands magnets, because if the ball is coming near them, he finds a way to come down with the catch.
"Justin is a savant of the position. He’s really, really in tuned in how to manipulate the defensive back and how to set his routes up. He’s going into year four. GP is going into year two. There’s still some things that he wants to get better at."
Pickens could be a star on the rise this season, and has made it known he believes he can be the NFL's best wideout. If he and Kenny Pickett find the connection they believe they could, and he continues to grow his game as a receiver, there should be no stopping the Steelers' Georgia star.
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