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When the new league year begins on March 12, chaos is bound to unfold once again, with trades and free agency reshaping rosters across the NFL. The Atlanta Falcons are expected to be active, looking to make key improvements.
However, Atlanta will need to tread carefully this offseason. Last year, the Falcons wasted no time making moves, announcing the signing of quarterback Kirk Cousins just minutes after the league year began.
That deal—worth four years and $180 million—ultimately cost the team a fifth-round draft pick due to alleged tampering. Adding to their draft capital concerns, Atlanta also parted with its third-round selection in the trade for veteran pass rusher Matthew Judon. As a result, the Falcons are left with just four picks in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Now, in an unexpected proposal floated by MLFootball on X, the Falcons would send their second-round pick to the Pittsburgh Steelers in a blockbuster deal for wide receiver George Pickens.
Pickens and Pittsburgh had an odd relationship in 2024, with tensions played out throughout the 2024 season. The former Georgia standout missed three games due to injury, hampering his production. After a breakout 2023 campaign in which he posted 63 receptions for 1,140 yards and five touchdowns, his numbers dipped slightly in 2024, finishing with 59 catches for 900 yards and three scores.
Set to make $3.3 million (per Spotrac) in 2025, Pickens is entering the final year of his rookie contract and is expected to demand a lucrative extension. If he doesn’t get it, a holdout could be in play.
Adding Pickens would be a major move for the Falcons, giving second-year quarterback Michael Penix Jr. another explosive weapon alongside Drake London and Bijan Robinson. However, given Atlanta’s pressing needs on defense and its already-limited draft capital, sacrificing yet another pick—especially a second-rounder—would be a bold gamble.