Pickens earned immediate playing time his freshman year at Georgia in 2019, leading the team in receptions (49), receiving yards (727) and receiving touchdowns (8).[11][12][13]
In the following season Pickens caught 36 passes for 513 yards and a team-leading six touchdowns in an eight-game season shortened by the COVID-19 pandemic.[14]
In the spring of 2021, Pickens tore his ACL causing him to miss most of his junior season.[15] He returned to play in the final four games of the year, catching just five passes, but made a crucial 52-yard reception during the first quarter in Georgia's win over Alabama in the 2022 College Football Playoff National Championship game. The catch is what put Georgia in Alabama territory for the first time during the game, setting up a short field goal for the Bulldogs.[16][17] Pickens declared for the 2022 NFL draft following the season.[18]
Pickens was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the second round (52nd overall) of the 2022 NFL draft.[21]
He made his first professional start in the Steelers season opener against the Cincinnati Bengals where he caught one pass on three targets for three yards as the Steelers won 23–20.[22] In Week 3 against the Cleveland Browns, Pickens corralled a one-handed catch while fully extending his body in the air. It was called by some the "Catch of the Year."[23] In Week 4, against the New York Jets, he had six receptions for 102 yards in the 24–20 loss.[24] Pickens scored his first professional touchdown during primetime in Week 7 against the Miami Dolphins when he caught a seven-yard pass from quarterback Kenny Pickett. This was the Steelers' only touchdown in the game, as they lost 16–10.[25] In Week 16, Pickens caught the game-winning touchdown against the Las Vegas Raiders with less than a minute remaining.[26] He finished the 2022 season with 52 receptions for 801 yards and a team-high four receiving touchdowns.[27][28]
2023 season
Pickens with the Steelers in 2023
In Week 2 of the 2023 season, Pickens had four receptions for 127 yards and a touchdown in the win over the Browns.[29] In Week 5, against the Ravens, he had six receptions for 130 yards and a touchdown in the 17–10 win.[30] In Week 16 against the Bengals, he had four receptions for 195 yards and two touchdowns, including a 86-yard reception for a score in the first quarter.[31] In the following game, against the Seahawks, he had seven receptions for 131 yards in the win.[32] He finished his second NFL season with 63 receptions for 1,140 yards and five touchdowns in 17 games and 16 starts.[33] He finish the season leading the league in yards per reception with 18.1.
Pickens was on the receiving end of controversy throughout the 2023 season. After the Steelers' 20–16 victory over the Tennessee Titans, Pickens was criticized for lacking effort on the field. Throughout the previous two games, Pickens only completed three of ten receptions for 21 yards. He followed the criticism by posting on his Instagram story the words "free me" and deleted all posts related to the Steelers.[34] Pickens defended his post by making another post on Instagram explaining that the post was not directed at the Steelers, stating it has "[nothing] to do with football."[35]
During Week 15 against the Indianapolis Colts, Pickens was again criticized for a lack of effort, most notably not blocking for running back Jaylen Warren on a potential touchdown drive near the goal line.[36] Following the game, Pickens responded to the criticism stating he was attempting to avoid injury.
2024 season
Pickens in a one-on-one drill with safety Terrell Edmunds during a practice in 2024
Following the 2024 preseason, Pickens was named wide receiver one on the Steelers' depth chart.[37] In his first start of the season during Week 1, he made six catches on seven targets for 85 yards. During Week 2's 13–6 win over the Denver Broncos, Pickens caught a pass from quarterback Justin Fields to pick up 51 yards and move the ball to the Broncos' six yard line, however it was negated by a holding penalty on right tackle Broderick Jones.[38] He would finish the game with two receptions for 29 yards.[39] Pickens would eclipse his first 100 receiving yard game of the season during the team's Week 4 24–27 loss to the Indianapolis Colts. During the game, he caught seven passes for 113 yards, but failed to score a touchdown. He would also fumble once, causing the Steelers to lose possession of the ball and set up a touchdown drive for the Colts.[40]
Pickens after a touchdown against the Cincinnati Bengals
In the final moments of the Steelers' 17–20 loss to the Dallas Cowboys, Pickens would get his third and final reception of the game. The Steelers needed to gain significant yardage with no timeouts remaining to put themselves in field goal range to tie the score. Pickens caught the ball around the 25 yard line and stood in place momentarily before throwing a backwards pass to Isaac Seumalo leading to multiple lateral passes being thrown before time expired with a failed lateral from Pat Freiermuth to Mason McCormick to end the game.[41] Pickens finished the game with three catches on seven targets for just 26 yards, his worst game statistically of the season through five weeks.[42] Pickens would rebound during the Steelers' 37–15 victory over the New York Jets on October 20. He caught five passes for 111 yards and a touchdown, making him the team's leading receiver for the game.[43]
On November 10, Pickens caught a 20-yard touchdown pass from Russell Wilson in which he leaped in the air and contorted his body backwards while extending his arms backwards over his head in what was named another "catch of the year" for Pickens.[44][45][46] During December 1's 44–38 win over the Cincinnati Bengals, Pickens was the team's leading receiver with three catches for 76 yards and a touchdown in the first game the Steelers had put up over 40 points in a single game since November 8, 2018.[47][48] On December 8, Pickens was ruled out of Week 14's victory over the Cleveland Browns with a hamstring injury he sustained earlier in the week during practice. This was the first game of his career in which he did not play.[49]
After being drafted by the Steelers in 2022, Pickens moved into an apartment in Pittsburgh with his older brother, Chris Humes.[50] In 2023, Pickens spent Thanksgiving with teammate Broderick Jones at head coach Mike Tomlin's home.[51]
On the second night of the 2022 NFL Draft, Pickens was the subject of a viralmeme. Dressed in a white T-shirt, blue basketball shorts, and a ski mask, commonly called a "sheisty," Pickens watched as he was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the second round from his family's living room. His outfit, combined with his nonchalant posture, became a meme. Pickens later explained that his look was a mix of humor and frustration after not being chosen in the first round, admitting he was "a little salty". He told CBS Sports he decided to take a more relaxed approach to Day 2, skipping the formal suit he had prepared for the draft's opening night.[52]
