The Dallas Cowboys reportedly discussed trading for WR George Pickens during the 2025 NFL Draft, and while they didn’t land him then, nearly two weeks later, Pickens is reportedly being traded to Dallas. Per The Athletic NFL insider Dianna Russini, Dallas previously offered just a fourth-round pick for Pickens, but stepped up their offer with a third-round pick and a late-round pick swap.
It’s not a surprise that the Steelers moved on from Pickens this offseason, especially after acquiring WR DK Metcalf, but the timing of the trade is a surprise. It sounds as if the Steelers didn’t get an offer they wanted during or before the draft though, and it took the Cowboys upping their offer to a Day 2 selection for the Steelers to move Pickens. It gives the team more picks in the 2026 Draft, where the Steelers could potentially look to draft their quarterback of the future.
In Dallas, Pickens will team up with WR CeeDee Lamb and TE Jake Ferguson to form Dallas’ receiving nucleus for QB Dak Prescott. For Pittsburgh, it leaves the team with Metcalf and a receiver room that features Calvin Austin III, Roman Wilson, Robert Woods, Scotty Miller and Ben Skowronek as their top options outside of him.
With one year left on his contract, Pickens was unlikely to get a contract extension, and signs were pointing toward 2025 being his last year in Pittsburgh. But the team likely would’ve held onto him had they not received an offer they deemed fair, and Dallas made an effort to increase their offer to entice the Steelers to move on from Pickens.
Had the Steelers opted to deal Pickens during the draft, the fourth-round pick that Dallas offered seems like it would’ve been the best the team could’ve done. Russini doesn’t make it clear whether it was a 2025 fourth-round pick or a 2026 fourth-round pick, but it’s likely safe to assume that it would’ve been a 2025 selection. Had the Steelers made that trade, they could’ve selected a receiver, but the team didn’t pick a receiver at all in the 2025 draft, meaning their receiver room next season is largely going to be similar to what it was last year.
George Pickens ends his Steelers tenure with 174 receptions for 2,841 yards and 12 touchdowns in three seasons. His best season came in 2023 when he had 63 receptions for 1,140 yards and five touchdowns.
