The Pittsburgh Steelers traded WR George Pickens in May, moving on from a receiver who contributed on the field but brought headaches off it. Pickens has taken advantage of his new start with the Dallas Cowboys, as through 11 games, he has a career-high 67 receptions for 1,054 yards and eight touchdowns. The Steelers got a third-round pick this year and a fifth-round pick next year for Pickens and a sixth-round pick next year. With Pickens having a breakout season in Dallas, The Athletic’s NFL insider Dianna Russini wrote that rival executives are still “shaking their heads” at the return Jerry Jones “squeezed” out of the Steelers.
“By early May, Dallas finalized a deal with Pittsburgh, with the Steelers sending a 2027 sixth-round pick along with Pickens to the Cowboys in exchange for a 2026 third and a 2027 fifth. Rival executives are still shaking their heads at the return Jones squeezed out of the Steelers — and how this might be looked at as the Cowboys’ trade of the year.”
Let’s make it very clear. Jerry Jones didn’t squeeze anything out of the Steelers. By all intents and purposes, the Steelers were determined to trade Pickens, especially after acquiring DK Metcalf. Russini herself reported that the Cowboys and a few other teams had looked to trade for Pickens during the draft but that Dallas wasn’t offering more than a fourth-round pick.
There seemingly wasn’t a lot of interest in Pickens this offseason. The Steelers called around to make it known he was available, and teams weren’t all that interested in dealing for him, hence why a trade happened after the 2025 NFL Draft instead of prior to or during the draft. All the rival executives who are supposedly “shaking their heads” had every opportunity to trade for Pickens.
It’s not a huge surprise to see Pickens thrive in Dallas. The Steelers offense isn’t wide receiver-friendly, and he never had consistent quarterback play while in Pittsburgh. Pickens is now playing with one of the league’s best quarterbacks in Dak Prescott. But it was never going to be a surefire, slam-dunk move due to concerns about Pickens’ attitude, and, oh yeah, he only has one year left on his deal. The Cowboys are going to need to give Pickens a mega deal or franchise tag him this offseason, although ESPN insider Jeremy Fowler reported this morning that Pickens and his camp “strongly prefer” a long-term deal.
For as much of a love affair it is now with Pickens and Dallas, things can go south when Jerry Jones starts talking contract, as we saw with Micah Parsons. And while Pickens is playing really good football, as good as any receiver in the league, I have my doubts that any executives are truly looking down on this trade from Pittsburgh’s side of things.
We’ll see who’s “shaking their heads” during contract negotiations this offseason.
Recommended for you