George Pickens was, in many ways, a star for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
But there was enough going on around that stardom that led to his trade to the Dallas Cowboys before the 2025 NFL season.
It's a deal that, from the moment it was made, had the potential to reshape the fortunes of two teams.
Only time will tell which side won the trade.
George Pickens trade details
The George Pickens trade took place in May 2025.
The details:
- Cowboys get: George Pickens, 2027 6th-round pick
- Steelers get: 2026 3rd-round pick, 2027 5th-round pick
Why did the Steelers trade George Pickens to the Cowboys?
There were a number of factors at play here:
Contract
At one time, Pickens may have seemed likely to sign a long-term deal with Pittsburgh.
But once the Steelers traded for DK Metcalf and gave him a massive four-year extension, the writing was on the wall: Pickens wouldn't be getting a contract like that himself.
That made trading him logical, to get assets in return before his deal ran out.
Conflict
Pickens had a number of moments that created conflicts in Pittsburgh.
The Steelers sought out a fresh start. Pickens had been criticized for a number of things, like an unwillingness to dive on a fumble and some less-than-mature behavior off the field.
Future
If Pickens wasn't around long term, getting rid of him for draft picks made sense.
The Steelers know they're in an odd timeline. Aaron Rodgers will only be the QB for the 2025 season, and then everything resets again.
The more that Pittsburgh has in its arsenal to build back up again during the offseason after this campaign, the better.
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Why did the Cowboys trade for George Pickens?
This part is obvious: Pickens can play.
And the Cowboys needed a WR2.
For too long, CeeDee Lamb operated as the only true threat for Dak Prescott out wide. Pickens adds a great secondary option.
Pickens had 2,841 yards through three seasons with the Steelers with 174 catches.
In 2024, he missed three games and still had 900 yards in a bumpy offense.
The Cowboys will be hoping Pickens can go for 1,000 yards while Lamb attracts a lot of the defensive attention.
It was a worthwhile gamble to take.
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