George Pickens believes Van Jefferson can do a lot for the Steelers passing game

The fate of the universe hangs in the balance when the Martians aim the death ray at Earth and George Pickens wants Van Jefferson. Okay, that's not exactly what he said, but amidst all of these wide receiver trade rumors floating around, the Steelers' No. 1 option has confidence in his running mate.

“Van has great tracks, that’s the first thing I knew about Van,” Pickens told reporters Friday after practice. “He can definitely do a lot for us in the passing game.”

Somewhere a Steelers fan is screaming into his pillow after reading this. Van Jefferson has been less than inspiring since signing with Pittsburgh. This season he has only 10 catches for 77 yards and one touchdown. That accounts for just 18% of the team's passing offense this season. Jefferson has also struggled beyond the basic stats, posting the second-worst Pro Football Focus grade of his career in 2024.

It's no secret that the Steelers are actively looking for another wide receiver. From Brandon Aiyuk to Davante Adams to Cooper Kupp, Pittsburgh has been actively involved in trade talks for available top wide receivers since the summer. Unfortunately, the team has seemingly made every attempt to sign a top player for the position. However, according to Dianna Russini, the team continues to have active trade discussions to improve the position.

It's worth noting that Van Jefferson had his best game as a Steeler last Sunday night. While it may not have been a stellar performance, he caught two passes for 15 yards and his first score of the year. Additionally, Jefferson was much better at blocking, passing Najee Harris on the following play.

Is this a preview of the future? With Russell Wilson at the helm, the team showed signs of improved passing. Still, I don't think I would plant my flag on Van Jefferson Hill. Since 2021, Jefferson has seen progressively less production in each year of his career. In 2023, he ranked near the bottom of the league in separation-based win share compared to yards run per route. I wouldn't expect any major improvement over time.

At the very least, it's nice to hear Pickens supporting his teammates as he continues to grow as a player and leader on the team.