George Pickens more talented than Justin Jefferson? Patrick Peterson weighs in
By Paul Harvey
Published:
George Pickens is heading into his second NFL season after an up-and-down rookie season with the Pittsburgh Steelers. However, one NFL analyst believes his potential is still off the charts, and at least one teammate agrees.
Recently, Ryan Clark made the comment he believes Pickens is more talented than All-Pro receiver and former LSU star Justin Jefferson. Patrick Peterson — a fellow LSU product who played with Jefferson on the Minnesota Vikings — was asked about Clark’s assessment of Pickens.
Peterson is now a teammate of Pickens with the Steelers, and Peterson admitted he buys the claim that Pickens is more talented than Jefferson. However, Pickens is still raw while Jefferson is polished in his approach to getting defensive backs off balance.
“I could see it. I definitely could see it,” said Peterson about the idea of Pickens being more talented. “GP is very very raw. He’s unpredictable when the ball is coming his way as far as his catch ability. On my podcast the other day, I called his hands magnets because if the ball’s coming anywhere near him, he finds a way to come down with the catch.
“Justin is a savant of the position. He’s really really in tune in how to manipulate the defensive back, how to set his routes up. And he’s going into Year 4, GP’s going into Year 2, still some things that he wants to get better at. But the talent? I’d probably have to agree with (Ryan Clark).”
Patrick Peterson was asked about Ryan Clark’s comments on #Steelers George Pickens being more talent than Justin Jefferson.
Bottom line, he agreed: pic.twitter.com/E7zaqZuTWw
— Christopher Carter (@CarterCritiques) August 16, 2023
Jefferson finished last season as a first-team All-Pro while leading the NFL in catches (128) and receiving yards (1,809) to go with 8 touchdowns. Pickens’ rookie numbers included 52 catches for 8-1 yards and 4 touchdowns.
However, it’s worth noting Jefferson played with a seasoned veteran QB in Kirk Cousins last season. Meanwhile, Pickens played with journeyman Mitchell Trubisky and rookie Kenny Pickett at the position.
We’ll see if Pickens can provide a breakout performance this fall, but Peterson certainly sees the talent to have a huge Year 2 from the Georgia product.
Paul Harvey lives in Atlanta and covers SEC football.
