The Dallas Cowboys made a major move on Wednesday, acquiring wide receiver George Pickens from the Pittsburgh Steelers in a trade that promises to shake up their offensive dynamic.
Pickens, a talented and athletic receiver, is expected to provide a significant boost to the Cowboys’ passing game, giving quarterback Dak Prescott another top target to complement the All-Pro CeeDee Lamb.
For Pittsburgh, however, the trade represents a fresh start. The Steelers have opted to move on from the fourth-year wideout, despite his impressive numbers.
According to ESPN analyst Louis Riddick, the decision to part ways with Pickens could ultimately be beneficial for the team.
“There comes a point in time where it’s just not a tenable situation anymore. They just feel as though that the talent does not warrant them tolerating whatever issues that the player was causing,” Riddick said.
“They just say, ‘Hey, look it doesn’t really matter what it looks like on paper, to us, we feel as though this could potentially be quote unquote an addition by subtraction type of situation.’”
Riddick explained that, while Pickens is undeniably a gifted player, the Steelers believe the trade is in the best interest of the team moving forward.
“Yeah, George Pickens is a wonderful talent, but when we look at it in its totality, this is what’s better for the football team,” he continued.
“Although everyone who’s a fan of the Steelers and everyone who studies the Steelers from the outside looking in goes, ‘This does not make sense, especially considering the situation at quarterback.’”
Pickens has been a standout for Pittsburgh in recent years. Over the past two seasons, he has been the Steelers’ leading receiver, including a breakout performance in 2023.
In that year, Pickens recorded 63 receptions for 1,140 yards and five touchdowns, playing in all 17 games.
Even in a slightly reduced role in 2024, he still managed to lead the team with 900 yards on 59 receptions despite being limited to 14 games.
However, his off-field behavior has been a growing concern.
The former second-round draft pick has earned a reputation for being difficult to manage, with his antics occasionally overshadowing his on-field production.
This has led the Steelers to make the difficult decision to trade him, even though it may appear perplexing to outsiders.
While Dallas is excited about the potential Pickens brings, some critics are wary of the move.
The Cowboys’ acquisition of the receiver comes at a cost – a 2026 third-round pick – and it’s clear that the team is taking a gamble by bringing him on board for the final year of his rookie contract.
Typically, teams tend to extend players they trade for, but the Cowboys have decided against that route for now.
The Cowboys’ decision not to offer an immediate contract extension could be tied to other pressing contract negotiations.
Dallas is still in discussions with star linebacker Micah Parsons, who will enter the final year of his rookie deal in 2025, and may want to preserve flexibility for that situation.
The Steelers’ decision to part ways with Pickens is unlikely to have any bearing on their pursuit of future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
Despite Pickens’ departure, Pittsburgh is still hopeful that Rodgers will decide to continue his career with the team. (Though some fans want no part of him.)
As for Pickens, he’ll now look to make an impact with the Cowboys, where he’ll likely play a key role in their offense, paired alongside the star power of CeeDee Lamb.
Whether this trade will lead to success in Dallas remains to be seen, but for the Steelers, it’s a chance to move forward and focus on the broader team picture.
What are your thoughts on the trade? … Do you agree with Riddick that it was worth it for the Steelers to just get Pickens out of the building???
