Tim Benz: Omar Khan's '4-letter word' that puts George Pickens' future with the Steelers in a new light

It’s amazing how one little, four-letter word can change the scope of an entire conversation.

No. I’m not even talking about one of those four-letter words.

The word I’m talking about is pretty basic: here.

That’s it. The word “here.”

When Pittsburgh Steelers president Art Rooney II was asked about wide receiver George Pickens’ maturity issues as he enters the last year of his contract, Rooney didn’t use that very small but very important word.

“George (Pickens) is a very talented player who has room to grow. We’d like to see him grow. Hopefully, he realizes the potential that he has, but definitely room for growth there,” Rooney said.

Again, note that Rooney didn’t say, “… see him grow here,” or “hopefully he realizes the potential he has here.”

Or “with us.” Or “in Pittsburgh.”

With trade rumors swirling around Pickens since the season ended, many people noticed that slight — but glaring — omission from Rooney on Jan. 27. Similarly, people picked up on the fact that coach Mike Tomlin also talked about Pickens’ maturity issues at his season-ending news conference and stopped short of fully endorsing the idea of giving Pickens a long-term extension.

That’s why general manager Omar Khan’s comments about Pickens — and the potential of a contract extension for him — at the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine were so intriguing.

“I had a really solid exit meeting with G.P., and I can tell you that he has a desire to be great,” Khan said Tuesday in Indianapolis. “He has a desire to be great here. We have a desire for him to be great, and to be great here. With respect to the contract, we won’t discuss that publicly, and usually those things are addressed at a later date.”

The use of “here” (twice) sure does stand out, doesn’t it? And it sure does seem intentional.

Also, if the contract is going to be “addressed at a later date,” that suggests to me that a potential trade of Pickens in advance of the draft, or as some part of the calculus heading into free agency, isn’t on the immediate agenda.

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I’m not sure what part of his Pickens’ meeting seemed to resonate so well with Khan when Tomlin and Rooney didn’t paint such a glowing picture.

The only theory that I can concoct is that it wasn’t actually Pickens’ exit meeting that was “really solid.” Maybe it was a few phone calls with his agents, and perhaps Pickens’ contract extension demands aren’t as outlandish as many of us assumed they’d be going into this offseason.

Or Pickens and the Steelers could be on the same page, and neither side thinks they are best served extending a contract now. It is possible Pickens’ reps think there will be a better market for their client in free agency in 2026, and the Steelers may want to see if they can get through 2025 without any more migraines from him during, after or before games.

Then again, this could all be one giant smokescreen. This could be Khan sending up a bogus signal flare to the rest of the league, hoping they believe a contract extension for Pickens is looming and that they better act fast with a tantalizing offer to Pittsburgh ASAP.

After all, a year ago in this same setting, Khan told the world he had “full faith” in Kenny Pickett.

Two weeks later, Russell Wilson became a Steeler, Pickett went to Philadelphia, and Justin Fields was about to be acquired from Chicago.

Believe what you want. But I know Khan spoke a lot about the quarterback situation Tuesday and said very little.

One answer (and one four-letter word) said a lot more about Pickens’ status.

Listen: TribLive Steelers beat writer Joe Rutter joins me from the NFL Scouting Combine to discuss Omar Khan’s interview session