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Dynasty Prospect Scouting Report: George Pickens

George Pickens, WR, Georgia

Height: 6’3

Weight: 195

Age: 21.0

Combine Results:

40-yard dash: 4.47 seconds (63rd percentile)

Vertical: 33” (21st)

Broad: 10’5” (77th)

3-cone: DNP

Short shuttle: DNP

College career:

Pickens was a 5-star recruit, a top 5 WR and a top 25 overall prospect in the 2019 class according to most scouting services. He closed his career at Hoover High School in Alabama with a 1,368-yard, 16-TD campaign.

He arrived in Athens, Georgia and quickly emerged as the Bulldogs’ top WR, ahead of senior Tyler Simmons, redshirt junior Demetris Robertson and senior Lawrence Cager. True freshman Pickens led the team in all major receiving categories, accounting for 19.2% of the catches, 23.3% of the yards and 30.8% of the TDs. That despite being suspended for the 1st half of the Georgia Tech game for violating team rules and then for the 1st half of the SEC Championship game after getting into a fight with a Georgia Tech player.

Pickens ranked 17th in Pro Football Focus’ 2019 receiving grades among 290 WRs with 50+ targets – 2 spots ahead of Jerry Jeudy and 3 spots ahead of Justin Jefferson. Pickens was named to the SEC All-Freshman Team.

He missed 2 games with an upper-body injury in 2020 but still led the Bulldogs with 4.5 catches, 64.1 yards and .75 TDs per game. In his 8 outings, Pickens soaked up 22.5% of the team’s receptions, 22.8% of the receiving yards and 35.3% of the receiving scores.

Pickens’ PFF receiving grade took a significant step back in 2020, though, checking in 75th among 146 qualifying WRs.

Pickens unfortunately tore his right ACL in late March of 2021. He spent most of the rest of the year rehabbing but was able to get back on the field for Georgia’s regular-season finale on November 27. Pickens caught just 5 balls across the final 4 games of the season but did make a big 52-yard grab in the National Championship.

Film study:

Courtesy of FF Astronauts

Games watched - Missouri (2019), Baylor (2019), Mississippi State (2020), Missouri (2020), Cincinnati (2020)

Pickens has all the tools to be a downfield weapon. He’s explosive off the snap with long-striding speed.

He tracks the ball well.

And he has the vertical, timing and body control to win contested balls.

For a bigger receiver, Pickens also does a nice job adjusting to snag low throws.

Pickens looked raw as a route runner as a freshman but seemed to improve in year 2. Here’s a nice deep comeback in the final game of Pickens’ sophomore season.

Pickens doesn’t possess much make-you-miss ability after the catch. But he gets upfield in a hurry and doesn’t shy away from contact.

Fantasy potential:

Pickens has a limited college resume – just 24 total games and 63 snaps this past year.

But there’s a lot to be excited about. He was a 5-star recruit and turned in an excellent freshman season against SEC competition. The tape is chock-full of big plays down the field. And he earned a 93rd percentile Relative Athletic Score.

At minimum, I like his chances to be a big-play and red-zone weapon in the NFL. And he’s 1 of just a handful of WRs in this class with the tools and physical profile to develop into a #1 WR.

Jared Smola, Lead Analyst

Jared has been with Draft Sharks since 2007. He’s now Lead Analyst, heading up the preseason and weekly projections that fuel your Draft War Room and My Team tools. He currently ranks 1st among 133 analysts in draft rankings accuracy.