​The Pittsburgh Steelers traded for DK Metcalf to give their offense a No. 1 receiver. One season later, ESPN’s survey of NFL executives, coaches and scouts ranked him among the players who received votes.George Pickens landed at No. 7.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThat gap offers an uncomfortable snapshot of the trade Pittsburgh hoped would stabilize the position. Metcalf finished 2025 with 59 catches for 850 yards and six touchdowns, useful production that didn’t match his reputation or the investment required to acquire him.The Steelers sent Seattle a 2025 second-round pick as part of the Metcalf deal, then committed to a contract that runs through 2029. Two months later, they moved Pickens to Dallas for a 2026 third-round pick (which turned into Drew Allar) and a swap of late-round selections.In turn, Pittsburgh watched as Pickens produced a career season. He caught 93 passes for 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns, earning top-10 recognition while Metcalf appeared as a footnote.The quarterback difference deserves attention. Pickens spent his Pittsburgh years catching passes from Mitch Trubisky, Kenny Pickett, Russell Wilson and Justin Fields. Playing with Dak Prescott gave his downfield ability and contested-catch talent a steadier platform.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementMetcalf hasn’t been a failure in Pittsburgh, as he remains the offense’s most dangerous receiver, averaging 14.4 yards per catch and scoring six times despite an uneven passing attack. The problem is that the compensation outweighs the impact, while the player they traded became one of the league’s most productive receivers.Moving Pickens may have been best for both sides after three turbulent seasons. ESPN’s survey shows how poorly Pittsburgh replaced the talent. While the Steelers used draft capital and a contract to rebuild the position, Pickens became the receiver opponents feared more.This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: DK Metcalf’s place on ESPN list reflects Steelers’ costly swap