The Dallas Cowboys' trade for George Pickens is already looking better and it's partly because of Aaron Rodgers
The Dallas Cowboys' trade for wide receiver George Pickens has been widely applauded by the NFL world. By simply giving up a third-round draft pick (and engaging in a less relevant Day 3 swap), the Cowboys got a wide receiver with No. 1 talent that they can treat as a No. 2 behind CeeDee Lamb. And […]
The Dallas Cowboys' trade for wide receiver George Pickens has been widely applauded by the NFL world.
By simply giving up a third-round draft pick (and engaging in a less relevant Day 3 swap), the Cowboys got a wide receiver with No. 1 talent that they can treat as a No. 2 behind CeeDee Lamb. And if it works and they fail to extend him in 2026, chances are they'll get a third round comp pick back in 2027.
Smart business. However, one blemish on the trade was evident and it remains a concern even now: Pickens' attitude and behavior. Was it so bad that the Steelers weren't willing to keep him around? Well, there's a little bit more context to the situation now that we didn't know before.
And if you ask me, the latest report from an NFL insider on the situation makes the trade look like an even bigger win for Dallas.
ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported earlier in the week the trade happened in large part because of concerns from the Steelers that newly acquired QB Aaron Rodgers wouldn't get along with the controversial wide receiver.
"(Pickens') maturity issues were well-known within Pittsburgh's locker room and front office," Fowler wrote. "So, the Steelers made the evaluation that Pickens and Rodgers probably would not hit it off."
That alone makes the Cowboys' trade for Pickens look better in two levels. Firstly, the Steelers were open to parting ways with Pickens because they prioritized securing their starting quarterback. That's a good trade off considering how important having a QB is in this league and the fact that the alternative was Mason Rudolph.
But that's not all.
You see, it's one thing for Pickens to be a locker room problem to the point where he's not worth betting on. Another very different thing is for the combination of he and Rodgers to be the issue. The quarterback himself has proven to be a complicated personality that has to be carefully managed.
A to Z Sports' Steelers expert Rob Gregson elaborated on this potential issue for the Steelers in a recent post:
Some have already pointed out the potential issues between Rodgers and Metcalf, given the possible clash of egos. Could you imagine a trio of Rodgers, Metcalf, and Pickens? Let the team lose one game, and Rodgers miss a few targets to either one, and we would have a Najee Harris ripping the team back in 2023 all over again.
In other words, Rodgers and Pickens would've likely clashed in a way Prescott and Pickens are unlikely to. Say what you want about Dak, but he's adored by the locker room. There's no controversy in that like there was with the New York Jets and the Green Bay Packers.
Top 10 quarterback or not is a debate for another day. Pickens knows he isn't going to make it in Dallas if he becomes an enemy to his QB. The locker bond in the Cowboys is a strong one and in large part because of Dak.
I wouldn't be too concerned about Pickens not hitting it off with the team like he already has in OTAs and minicamp.
