With just one game left in the first week of the NFL preseason, all but two teams have now seen their rookies play in pads. According to Pro Football Focus, the highest graded player thus far is none other than the Pittsburgh Steeler’s 2022 second-round pick George Pickens.
Per Pro Football Focus, Pickens is graded at 91.2, which constitutes an “elite” category performance. For context, Las Vegas Raiders receiver Davante Adams earned a 92.7 grade in the 2021 season.
As has been the case from the pre-draft process to training camp, Pickens did not mince his words regarding his confidence in his abilities.