The 2025 season has been a rather miserable one for the Tennessee Titans. First overall pick Cam Ward has struggled but then again, so has the entire team. The Titans need to ensure that next offseason, when free agency begins, they give Ward the help he so desperately needs to make sure he doesn't end up as the latest quarterback draft bust.
Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report put together a list of the top 50 free agents for the 2026 offseason and number two on their list was wide receiver George Pickens. One of the potential suitors listed for Pickens in 2026 was the Titans, which would give Ward the massive wide receiver target he needs to excel at the professional level.
There's no debating that Pickens is a terrific wide receiver, hauling in 49 catches for 764 yards and six touchdowns in nine games with the Cowboys this season. The only true red flag for the former Georgia star is that he had a reputation as a problematic player during his time with the Steelers.
As Knox noted in his write-up on Pickens, however, he hasn't had any issues in Dallas so far.
"Wide receiver George Pickens should be thrilled he got the 2025 change of scenery he did.
He was beginning to earn a reputation as a problem player in Pittsburgh. We haven't heard any negatives about the 24-year-old in Dallas, and he's having a career year.
Pickens is on pace to top the 1,140 receiving yards he had in 2023, and while he may not be a true No. 1 receiver, he's a heck of a second option. His next contract should reflect that."
Titans could rescue Cam Ward’s confidence by signing George Pickens
This hypothetical signing has pros and cons, as do most free agent moves. The pros would be that Pickens is clearly a great wide receiver and could give Ward the help he needs. Two of Ward's three starting wide receivers are rookies, who have looked pretty good. Now imagine adding Pickens to that young group, especially if Calvin Ridley isn't around next season. It'd give Ward some great options to throw to.
The cons is pretty much everything else. The three-year, $90 million contract that Knox projected Pickens to get would be a lot of money to spend on a guy who has been considered problematic in the past. Throw in that a lot of Pickens' grievances in Pittsburgh revolved around him not getting the ball enough and that could be a recipe for disaster for Ward and his development.
It's doubtful that Tennessee would be somewhere Pickens would want to go too, considering how bad they've been and wanting to avoid that type of environment. Money talks though and if the Titans offered him this kind of deal when no one else did, who knows what could happen?