Exactly.
The decision to trade Pickens in and of itself isn't the real problem, even if they could've better utilized assets by trading him before the draft and using one of their picks on a receiver to replace him, or closer to the in season deadline would there be a desperate team in need of a receiver.
The real problem is this team, much like their QB situation, is stuck in the middle of no man's land, unable to decide if they want to try to contend or truly rebuild for the future, and make contradictory decisions that don't make any sense for either purpose.
If they thought they could realistically contend in the next season or two, then paying a 2nd for Metcalf to complement with Pickens makes sense, trying to extend Watt makes sense, going after Rodgers makes sense (overpaying to keep Fields here would've made even more sense but spilled milk and all).
But trading Pickens is a win later move, regardless of how bad his behavioral problems might be, you are not going to get an equivalent talent for equivalent assets you used to acquire him, nor even what they just got to get rid of him.
If that's the case, you don't need Metcalf here in the first place, he alone as a receiving threat is not good enough to carry an offense, especially one without a great QB to throw him balls, so he's wasted here. Some will argue a 2nd to acquire Metcalf being worth it but by the time they draft and hopefully hit a home run on the next franchise QB, Metcalf will be in his 30s and his contract will almost be over. At no point in his tenure here will he likely ever play for a contending team. That 2nd could've been better utilized in the draft for the future, you don't need a Metcalf to properly develop a QB.
In the same vein, resigning Watt is another pointless endeavor if building the team towards winning later, especially when you drafted yet another edge LB when Herbig is already knocking at the door for more playing time behind Watt and Highsmith. Watt is almost assuredly already passed his prime production, and like his brother is becoming more and more injury prone. He's not a bull rush defensive end who as long as he maintains his strength can still remain effective on the rush. He's strong yes but built more lanky and relies primarily on speed off the edge, which will diminish quicker as he ages compared to the alternative, especially if he ends up as injury prone as his brother was in his 30's. Paying him $40 million a year to decline in performance each year that goes by in a defense that routinely with or without him sucks when it matters is not smart asset utilization. If they're not going to win regardless of circumstance this season or the next few, they can do that without him just as well as they have with him his entire post season career (all of 1 sack).
Minkah is the same story as Watt, except without the recent elite performance, coasting off his reputation for years now.
Khan and Weidl clearly have a vision for this team when it comes to draft strategy, but have completely fumbled the ball regarding where this team supposedly believes itself to be when compared to their competition. They're not a contender, yet not a top 5 pick team, they're stuck in the middle, which is the worst place you can be, and they don't seem to have a real plan on how they plan to escape that barring firing Tomlin and bringing in a coach willing to suck for a few years until they get a real franchise QB, gutting the older roster players who have no future value for picks, and truly dedicating themselves to a rebuild.
For those that always argue about not needing to tank to get a good QB, first they don't need a good QB, they need a great one. One who will be capable of beating Lamar or Burrow for the foreseeable future, they likely aren't going to find one of those outside of the top of the first round, especially if relying on a project pick that would need proper developing, this coaching staff sure isn't capable of accomplishing that, hence why if they aren't going to dump Tomlin, they're going to need as ready a prospect as possible that is coaching proof, and they're unlikely to find that in pick 20+.
Second, at least for this upcoming draft, the Browns and another team who I can't remember off the top of my head are stockpiling picks for next year just like the Steelers are, except theirs are better, and they're likely to suck this upcoming season and have a better draft position to start with to trade up from if they even need to to get one of the top QB's. The Steelers will have plenty of competition in trading up for one of the top QB's. There's not even a guarantee there'll be that many worth taking, yet the Steelers again will handicap their chances by striving to win meaningless regular season games that will only hinder their chances at an actual worthwhile QB prospect. Unless they punt next draft as well in the hopes of going all out for Manning the next year or something, this upcoming draft is no slam dunk they'll find a franchise QB demonstrably better than Howard.
I just wish this team would pick a lane and stick to it, but they're still stuck in their 20 year old "Steelers way" mindset, that hasn't produced anything of real value in over a decade. Just look at where Washington was 5 years ago and where they're at today, and then try to honestly argue that once laughingstock of the league is not in a better organizational position today and going forward than the "never has losing seasons" Steelers.
Long story short...
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