The Dallas Cowboys have acquired wide receiver George Pickens from the Pittsburgh Steelers in a trade that has significant implications for both teams. The Cowboys received Pickens and a sixth-round pick in 2027 as part of the trade. In return, they traded the Steelers a 2026 3rd rounder and 2027 5th rounder. This trade comes with Pickens now entering the last year of his rookie contract, so he is extension eligible.
Since coming into the league, Pickens is playing exactly how he did in college. He proved his breakaway speed by clocking a 4.47-second 40-yard dash at last year’s combine. He exhibited elite play down the stretch as 2023 went on. With an even more impressive average of 18.1 yards per catch, he led the league in that category. Over his three-year career with the Steelers, he accumulated 174 receptions for 2,841 yards and 12 touchdowns, including a standout 1,140-yard season in 2023.
The trade comes as little surprise and speaks to the Cowboys’ strategic push to bolster their receiving corps. Pickens will join the outstanding CeeDee Lamb, who signed an eye-popping $34 million a year contract. The Cowboys have rejected an offer to extend Pickens’ deal at this time. Their plan is for him to play out his entire rookie contract before they even entertain extension talks.
Surprisingly, despite his obvious on-field talents, Pickens’ time in Pittsburgh was mired in controversy. Rumors swirled of players’ displeasure with the Steelers’ conservative offense and accusations of mail-it-in effort from coaches and onlookers. Notably, his late arrival—less than 90 minutes before a Christmas Day game against the Kansas City Chiefs—raised eyebrows among fans and analysts alike.
In light of these obstacles, former NFL wideout Antonio Pryor recently articulated the challenge before Pickens in terms of growing up.
“He’s just got to grow up, man,” – Pryor
Adding to the importance of this game was the beauty of divisional games, and the high stakes involved with these games were impactful to growth for Pickens.
“This is an emotional game, man. These divisional games are big. He’s got a target on his back because he’s George; he understands that. But he’s got to grow up. He’s got to grow up in a hurry.” – Pryor
For the Steelers, this move places them extremely well as they look ahead towards the 2024 draft. In dealing Pickens, they currently own three third-round picks in next year’s draft. This provides them a perfect opportunity to build their roster around.
Leave a Reply