Arizona Cardinals predicted to trade for Pittsburgh Steelers WR George Pickens during NFL Draft

The Arizona Cardinals need to take a significant leap forward in 2025. 

With former Eagles DC leading the Cardinals, it’s easy to see why the organization tried to bolster the defense in the offseason so far. 

The Cardinals finished the 2024 campaign with the No. 21 defense in the NFL, allowing 342.5 yards per game. For Gannon — who was the architect behind a dominant Eagles defense as the DC in Philly before taking the Arizona head coaching job — it’s clear he’s doing everything he can to ensure the Cardinals make significant improvement on that side of the ball ahead of 2025. 

The biggest addition in free agency so far was Arizona signing former Eagles star pass rusher Josh Sweat, who played under Gannon in Philadelphia, to a massive contract. 

Sweat — who was consistently disruptive on the edge in Philly with.43 sacks, 97 quarterback hits, 54 tackles for loss and seven forced fumbles during his tenure with the Eagles —signed a four-year, $76.4 million contract with the Cardinals and now gives their defense a premier pass rusher. 

The Cardinals didn’t stop there. They added another major defensive piece, inking DT Dalvin Tomlinson to a a two-year deal worth $29 million with $16 million guaranteed. Tomlinson didn’t put up elite stats during his short tenure with the Browns, but the veteran has shown the ability to be a force against the run while still finding a way to rush the passer throughout his career. 

But if the Arizona Cardinals are going to compete in the NFC West and make a run in the playoffs, they are going to have to find success on offense around Kyler Murray, who they bet their future on a few years back with a massive extension. 

They recently made TE Trey McBride the highest paid players at his position. Last April, they drafted Marvin Harrison Jr. to give Murray a dominant No. 1 WR. They also extended James Conner, giving a workhorse and stability in the backfield. 

But with hours until the 2025 NFL Draft, the Cardinals are predicted to trade for one of the top offensive weapons on the Pittsburgh Steelers. 

Bleacher Reports predicts the Steelers will send WR George Pickens to the Cardinals in return for a 2025 3rd-round pick (No. 78), and a 2026 4th-round pick. 

The Arizona Cardinals are looking to build an explosive and dynamic offense around quarterback Kyler Murray, and they may continue focusing on that side of the ball this offseason. 

The Bleacher Report Scouting Department paired Arizona with Texas offensive lineman Kelvin Banks Jr. in its recent three-round mock draft. 

If the Cardinals do use their first-round pick to bolster the line, swinging a trade to upgrade the receiving corps would be logical. Marvin Harrison Jr. showed potential as a rookie last season, but Arizona could use another difference-maker opposite him. There's a non-zero chance that the Pittsburgh Steelers could make George Pickens available after acquiring DK Metcalf in a trade. 

"There's a lot of people that believe George Pickens' time there is limited," Bleacher Report NFL Insider James Palmer said on his NFL Insider Notebook (beginning around the 4:55 mark).

A pair of mid-round picks might be enough to entice Pittsburgh, given the fact that Pickens will be a 2026 free agent and is unlikely to see an extension from the Steelers.