Taken in the second round (31st overall) of the 1992 NFL Draft from Tennessee, Carl Pickens joined Cincinnati as a versatile, physical playmaker. With exceptional jumping and catching skills, reliable hands, and a formidable red-zone threat, Pickens swiftly became one of the most potent receiving options of the 1990s.

Pickens started strong as a rookie in 1992, demonstrating his quickness both as a receiver and return specialist. He gained 555 total yards and received AP Offensive Rookie of the Year, quickly becoming a key offensive star for the Bengals.

By 1994, Pickens leveled up into a true primary receiver, cracking the four-figure mark for the first time with 71 receptions for 1,127 yards and 11 touchdowns. That breakout ignited a dominant three-year stretch where he posted at least 1,000 yards and double-digit touchdowns each season. His 1995 campaign stood as his defining opus, as he hauled in 99 passes for 1,234 receiving yards and led the entire NFL with 17 receiving touchdowns, earning First-Team All-Pro honors and his first Pro Bowl selection. He backed that up in 1996 with 100 receptions for 1,180 yards and 12 touchdowns, earning a second straight Pro Bowl nod while becoming the first player in Bengals history to catch 100 passes in a single season.

Following a hamstring injury that restricted him to merely four games in 1997, Pickens rebounded in 1998 with his fourth career 1,000-yard season, obtaining 82 receptions for 1,023 yards and five touchdowns. Nevertheless, disagreements with senior management and public criticism of the team's coaching strategy cast a shadow over his final years in Cincinnati. The team even enacted what became known as the "Carl Pickens Clause"—a contractual provision permitting clubs to recover bonuses if a player publicly disparaged the organization.

After the 1999 season, Pickens parted ways with the Bengals and signed with the Tennessee Titans for the 2000 campaign before wrapping up his career with Dallas in 2001. With Cincinnati, Pickens played in 120 regular-season games (110 starts). He generated 530 receptions, 6,887 receiving yards, and 63 receiving touchdowns, along with two punt return touchdowns.