Former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens still has his old team on his mind after he was traded last month to the Dallas Cowboys.
Pickens took to Instagram after the Minkah Fitzpatrick for Jalen Ramsey trade and sent a message to his former teammate in Fitzpatrick, who is now headed back to the team who drafted him.
“Super happy for you broski !!!!!! Back to beautiful places in life lol,” Pickens said.
Pickens’ exit with the Steelers was an ugly one. During his opening press conference with the Cowboys, Pickens denied ever requesting a trade, but later said on X that he did force his way out.
The Athletic reported that Pickens was 40 minutes late to the team’s Christmas Day game against the Kansas City Chiefs, which was after the inactives were released. Pickens was returning from a hamstring injury and was supposed to test the injury pregame.
The second-round pick of the Steelers in the 2022 NFL Draft, both he and Kenny Pickett, the team’s first two picks from that draft, never finished their rookie contracts with the team.
Pickens missed three games with a hamstring injury, dampening what looked to be a second-straight 1000-yard season with the third-year wide receiver.
He averaged 15.3 yards per reception with 59 receptions for 900 yards on the year. In each of the last two seasons, Pickens has eclipsed 15 yards per catch and 900 yards as the focus of the team’s passing offense.