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Steelers trade George Pickens to Cowboys — the breakdown from both sides

A blockbuster trade went down during the wee hours of the morning on Wednesday, as the Pittsburgh Steelers dealt wide receiver George Pickens and a 2027 sixth-round draft pick to the Dallas Cowboys for a 2026 third-round pick and a 2027 fifth-round pick. The Cowboys got the No. 2 WR they desperately needed, and the Steelers now don’t have to give Pickens a big contract extension. Let’s examine all the details of the trade.

Why did the Steelers trade Pickens?

Pittsburgh was in a sticky situation with Pickens. While his talent is undeniable, Pickens was too often a headache to deal with, as described by A to Z Sports’ Rob Gregson:

“But George Pickens has tested their patience. If not for a strong relationship with Mike Tomlin, he likely would have been gone a long time ago due to his immaturity. Repeatedly being late to practice, team meetings, even chartered flights, Pickens has yet to fully grasp the professional aspect of the NFL according to league sources."

Not having to pay big money to a player with maturity issues is a plus, especially after giving the newly acquired DK Metcalf a four-year, $132 million contract. However, Metcalf is now the only legitimate WR on the Steelers’ roster. Gregson is not sold on their depth at the position, and is left puzzled as to why they didn’t select a WR during the 2025 NFL Draft.

“And I'm sorry but Robert Woods, at this stage of his career is not a WR #2 that you can rely on. Maybe Calvin Austin III or Roman Wilson step up to assume that role, but it didn't make sense for a team with the track record that the Steelers have when it comes to drafting WRs to pass on one then, and it makes even less sense now."

Perhaps Pittsburgh’s No. 2 WR isn’t even on its roster yet. Some of the top remaining free agents at the position include Keenan Allen, Amari Cooper, Gabe Davis, and Allen Lazard. If the Steelers do sign Lazard, that could foreshadow them and free agent quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who Lazard has played his entire career with, finally agreeing to a deal. A to Z Sports’ Wendell Ferreira explored the possibility of Pittsburgh trading for Green Bay Packers’ WR Romeo Doubs:

“While Romeo Doubs is a reliable receiver, he also has the lowest ceiling among the Packers' top options—including Watson, Jayden Reed, and Dontayvion Wicks. The situation gets more intriguing after Green Bay took Matthew Golden in the first and Savion Williams in the third round of the draft. Doubs is a solid piece of the offense, but at the same time it's hard to keep him around paying a veteran wide receiver contract with so many other options.

“The big question is compensation. With George Pickens being traded for a third-rounder, it's hard to imagine Doubs generating much more than, let's say, a fifth. And if that's the case, the Packers could just let him play out his contract and get a compensatory pick later—unless the team is willing to anticipate the draft capital by a year."

Where do the Cowboys go from here with Pickens?

In somewhat of a surprise, Pickens is ok with playing out the final year of his rookie contract before getting an extension. That means the 2025 season will be the most important of his young career, and that’s a great thing for the Cowboys. A to Z Sports’ Mauricio Rodriguez broke down why:

“In other words, the team's and player's interests are perfectly aligned. Pickens wants to put up numbers to treat this as a prove-it deal amid doubts that he can ever become a complete WR1—which could be keeping him from signing at the top of the market—and Dallas wants a playmaker to complement CeeDee Lamb on offense."

If Pickens balls out and keeps a good head on his shoulders, he’ll likely only be a one-year rental for Dallas since the team already has several big contracts on the books, and that’s without the eventual incoming mega-deal for linebacker Micah Parsons. Still, Rodriguez gave the Cowboys an A for the trade considering they should get the best version of Pickens, and they gave up so little to acquire him:

“Here's the bottom line: The Cowboys lining up in Week 1 without a true impact maker beyond CeeDee Lamb was dangerous business. Upgrading at the position was something they needed to do, no matter what. By getting Pickens, they're not only doing that but landing one of the best options in the market.

“The Cowboys offense now isn't all about stopping CeeDee Lamb as defenses will have to zero in on stopping Pickens, a contested catch monster who can threaten the field vertically. Cowboys Nation might not get to say this much about the front office led by the Joneses but they cooked here. And Dak Prescott now has an offense with solid playmakers other than No. 88."

The dynamic between Pickens and Brian Schottenheimer will be fascinating to watch. When Schottenheimer took over as Dallas’ head coach, he spoke about betting on high character and strong leadership traits from his players. That is obviously not Pickens’ strong suit, but if Schottenheimer can keep Pickens on his best behavior, that will be a great reflection on Schottenheimer.

“But if it's going to work out, it will be in large part due to Schottenheimer and the message he's sending to the locker room. If landing many rookies in the NFL Draft with strong leadership traits combined with the leadership already on the team translates into the right environment for players, then dealing with Pickens' antics should be doable and even easy.

“Schottenheimer's messaging and attempt to build his style of culture will be put to the test right away. The good news? It'll be put to the test with a player who backs it up in actual football terms. Pickens is a wide receiver who can win by himself thanks to his contested catch abilities and will go a long way in helping free up Lamb."

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Rookie minicamps are firing up around the league

The Kansas City Chiefs, Philadelphia Eagles, Baltimore Ravens, Green Bay Packers, Seattle Seahawks, and Cowboys have already conducted their rookie minicamps. The remaining teams will hold theirs this coming weekend. Let’s take a look at some at some of the best rookie minicamp nuggets throughout the league.

Chiefs taking it slow with OT Josh Simmons: “The Chiefs are proceeding cautiously with Simmons, as they should. The last thing you want to happen is for the rookie to have a setback in his recovery. The fact that he can showcase his talent to Coach Reid just in the individual work is a positive sign and speaks to the progress he's already made in his recovery. Simmons could be reintegrated even further when the team meets for the first of three voluntary OTA sessions later this month." —Charles Goldman

Eagles LB Jihaad Campbell participates in drills: “This is an interesting note as we figure out the Eagles' plan for Campbell, especially since many initially assumed the Eagles would plug him in as a replacement for Josh Sweat. That said, it’s still way too early to know exactly how the team plans to use him. Campbell is a super versatile linebacker who can pretty much do it all, which is important in Vic Fangio's defense and a big reason the Eagles traded up to get him in the first round. At Alabama, Campbell showed he could fly around the field, whether it was stopping the run, dropping back in coverage, or getting after the quarterback." —Kelsey Kramer

Packers DT Warren Brinson could be a late-round steal: “The Green Bay Packers selected Warren Brinson in the sixth round of the draft with a clear goal in mind. After losing TJ Slaton in free agency, they needed a replacement for the ability to stop the run through the middle—last year, Slaton led the NFL in run stop win rate amongst defensive linemen. In his final season at Georgia, Brinson solidified himself as a stout run defender, and this is his calling card entering the NFL. As a sixth-rounder, Warren Brinson will fight for a roster spot with Nazir Stackhouse, James Ester, Nesta Jade Silvera, and Keith Randolph Jr. But the rookie is ready to be more than just a bottom of the roster type, and his attitude shows he's ready to fight for real playing time in 2025." —Wendell Ferreira

Cowboys UDFA WR Treashon Holden feels disrespected: “Holden, a 6-foot-2 target with physicality, says he carries a chip on his shoulder after seeing 257 players be drafted and not him. He feels it ‘everyday.’ Though he considers himself a hard-worker already, he told the media he's ramping it up as a result of going undrafted as he tries to make NFL teams regret not picking him. This offseason and preseason, Holden will be looking to earn a spot on the Cowboys roster despite going undrafted. To do so, he'll have to be crafty once training camp kicks off. For many analysts, it was his lack of speed that cost him the opportunity of hearing his name called at the 2025 NFL Draft." —Mauricio Rodriguez

Seahawks QB Jalen Milroe using VR technology to refine skills: “The biggest issue with Milroe is his consistency as a passer, and ability to process information quickly enough. If he did so at a higher level, there is very little chance that Milroe would have gotten out of the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft. Instead, Milroe has been labeled strictly as a developmental player with a long way to go as a passer heading into the league. Could increased attention to Milroe’s fundamentals, as well as some NFL coaching, and VR technology, help his development? Only time will tell. Regardless, emulating what is making Daniels such a dynamic player is a great idea, and definitely worth a try." —Ryan Roberts

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