George Pickens is departing from the black and gold to provide Dak Prescott with an outstanding complementary target next to CeeDee Lamb.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are trading Pickens to the Dallas Cowboys, NFL Network Insiders Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero reported on Wednesday, per sources informed of the deal. Dallas will receive Pickens and a 2027 sixth-round pick, while Pittsburgh will get a 2026 third-round selection and a 2027 fifth-rounder, Rapoport added.
The Cowboys later announced the trade and that they have waived wide receiver Seth Williams in a corresponding move.
Much in need of a No. 2 target beside Lamb, the Cowboys rode through free agency and the 2025 NFL Draft without bringing in a bona fide second wide receiver. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said following the draft that the train had not "left the station" in terms of adding reinforcements if called upon.
Dallas called, and Pittsburgh answered by sending the three-year pro to the Cowboys in a splashy move that will no doubt get the hype train going full speed into the upcoming season.
Following the acquisition of DK Metcalf from the Seattle Seahawks, it seemed feasible that Pittsburgh could move Pickens -- like Metcalf, a big-play receiver who specializes in contested catches. That's come to fruition. It's a move that completes a massive offensive overhaul for the Steelers, who have now parted ways with their leading wide receiver from 2024, their leading rusher (Najee Harris; signed with Los Angeles Chargers) and their leading passer (Russell Wilson; signed with New York Giants).
Pickens moves to his second NFL team while entering the final year of his rookie contract, due just $3.65 million in what will be a massive prove-it season.
For the campaign ahead, though, the trade instantly improves the Cowboys' passing offense and gives Prescott another top-tier target whose skillset seems to mesh with Lamb's to aplomb. Pickens will slide in as the No. 2 WR option behind Lamb and ahead of Jalen Tolbert, who came up short of truly seizing the No. 2 role in 2024, Jonathan Mingo, Jalen Brooks and KaVontae Turpin.
For the Steelers, this is the end of a tumultuous run with Pickens, whom Pittsburgh took in the 2022 draft's second round. Pickens boasted first-round talent, but injuries and character concerns saw him fall to the Steelers at No. 52 overall.
Through three seasons with Pittsburgh, Pickens posted 174 receptions for 2,841 yards and 12 touchdowns. Pickens tallied an NFL-high 18.1 yards per catch in 2023 to go with 63 receptions for 1,140 yards and five touchdowns -- each of those numbers career bests. In 2024, he missed three games due to injury and struggled for stable production like the rest of the Pittsburgh offense, finishing with 59 catches for 900 yards and three touchdowns.
With Pickens gone, Metcalf will lead a Steelers WR corps that's relatively thin with new veteran addition Robert Woods and Calvin Austin III likely to get starting reps. Perhaps the biggest key to the deal from Pittsburgh's side will be the maturation of Roman Wilson -- a 2024 third-rounder who missed all but one game as a rookie due to ankle and hamstring issues.
Still just 24, Pickens has flashed sensational play over and over, but his production and those aforementioned character issues have equated to an overall inconsistent product.
Throughout Pickens' tenure, Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin was faced questsions regarding the wideout, from failing to block on a play for concern of getting injured to calling for more targets during games and on social media.
Along with the tumult of his time in Pittsburgh, Pickens also found a revolving door of quarterbacks.
At this point, the Steelers are still waiting on a decision from Aaron Rodgers to solidify their signal-caller spot after cycling through Kenny Pickett, Mitchell Trubisky, Mason Rudolph, Justin Fields and Wilson during Pickens' time.
Pickens is now set to catch passes from an established franchise quarterback for the first time in his career. Prescott is also lauded as one of the game's most revered teammates.
Perhaps a change of setting is just what Pickens needs to unlock his potential on a steady basis.
That's what the Cowboys are hoping they'll see in 2025.
