The Dallas Cowboys entered the offseason with a clear need for a second wide receiver to complement their All-Pro, CeeDee Lamb.
Despite this glaring hole, the team didn’t address the position in free agency or the NFL Draft.
However, on Wednesday, the Cowboys made a significant move by acquiring wide receiver George Pickens from the Pittsburgh Steelers in a trade.
While Pickens’ alarming maturity issues have been well documented, there’s no denying his immense talent.
ESPN’s Marcus Spears believes the addition of Pickens has the potential to elevate the Cowboys’ offense, especially with Lamb on the other side.
But for that to happen, Spears emphasized the importance of Pickens avoiding the mistakes that have hindered his career so far.
“Everything revolving around this George Pickens trade is about his availability and is he going to bring a maturity that’s needed in order to stay on the field and be available for games. If he does that, this offense is going to be a problem with those two guys on the outside,” the former NFL star said on ESPN.
The Cowboys have long sought a playmaker to give quarterback Dak Prescott another reliable target and relieve some of the pressure on Lamb, who often draws double teams.
With Pickens and Lamb lined up together, the Cowboys could be poised to create significant matchup problems for opposing defenses.
“When you have two real threats that are on the field it makes defenses play you differently and you win before the actual snap. So that’s what I’m thinking, the excitement comes from that. Matchup problems. Who do we leave one-on-one when we double,” Spears added.
While Prescott and Lamb both received significant contract extensions from the Cowboys, Pickens’ future in Dallas is uncertain.
The fourth-year wideout is entering the final year of his rookie contract, and reports indicate that the Cowboys do not plan on offering him an extension, despite sending a third-round pick to Pittsburgh for his services.
This suggests the Cowboys are treating 2025 as a “prove it” year for Pickens, given some of the off-field concerns surrounding his time with the Steelers.
Still, Pickens has been highly productive in his first three seasons. He was the Steelers’ leading receiver in both 2022 and 2023, with a standout 2023 campaign in which he caught 63 passes for 1,140 yards and five touchdowns.
If he can maintain similar production in Dallas, it could prove to be a major win for the Cowboys.
Despite Pickens’ talent, there are some who believe the Steelers may be better off without him.
In the wake of the trade, Pittsburgh has made it clear they are moving forward with DK Metcalf as their top wideout.
The Steelers acquired Metcalf from the Seattle Seahawks this offseason and immediately signed him to a five-year extension.
Only time will tell how this trade plays out for both teams, but with Pickens in the fold, the Cowboys are hoping their offense will reach new heights in 2025.
What are your thoughts on the trade? … Do you think Pickens will prove to be a “problem” in a good way or bad way for Dallas???
