The Dallas Cowboys have their ideal No. 2 wide receiver, while the Pittsburgh Steelers can move on from another mercurial former No. 1 wide receiver.
The wondering about how the Cowboys planned to upgrade a big need opposite CeeDee Lamb is finished, with speedy vertical threat George Pickens being the answer. Meanwhile, the Steelers follow through on moving Pickens after picking up a similar skill early in the offseason by trading for DK Metcalf.
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Here's breaking down the deal of mutual benefit ahead of OTAs and minicamp.
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George Pickens trade details
Cowboys receive:
- WR George Pickens
- 2027 sixth-round draft pick
Steelers receive:
- 2026 third-round draft pick
- 2027 fifth-round draft pick
George Pickens trade grades
Cowboys grade: A
The Cowboys look like this plan was in the works for a while, given they eschewed any thought of taking a wide receiver in the first round of the 2025 NFL draft. They didn't need to give up too much, as the Steelers were most willing to move on from Pickens.
MORE: How George Pickens fits with CeeDee Lamb as WR2 weapon for Dak Prescott
Dallas has a clear alpha target in Lamb, who dominates targets and win a lot of matchups in the slot or outside. He remains Dak Prescott's unquestioned go-to guy all over the field. But Pickens adds the missing field-stretching element and youth, only 24. The 2022 second-round draft pick had some flashes of big-play ability through the Steelers' QB carousel, but was inconsistent and not always on the same page.
Now he gets the established long-time big-armed starter Prescott, who gets a much-needed boost in head coach Brian Schottenheimer's offense. The pressure will be off Pickens to be the top cover assignment of cornerbacks, leading to more favorable downfield shots.
MORE: How trade for George Pickens impacts Cowboys' cap situation
Steelers grade: A
The Steelers may have thought for a second to make it work with Metcalf and Pickens. But they have similar size-vertical speed traits, even down to some inconsistent hands and separation on intermediate-to-deep routes.
Metcalf needs his version of a busy slot to best complement him, and this opens the door for a youngster, Roman Wilson or Calvin Austin III, to have a key role for the Steelers' latest transitional quarterback situation.
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Pickens never reached Antonio Brown levels on or off the field, but you can bet his not fitting with the reasonably demanding ways of coach Mike Tomlin was leaving the team uneasy. Now Metcalf can be the man, and maybe it will be soon with recent workout buddy Aaron Rodgers as his new starting QB soon.