The move to send George Pickens to the Dallas Cowboys by the Pittsburgh Steelers was quite significant. Since before the 2025 NFL Draft, rumors of a trade for the wide receiver had been spreading; Pickens was entering the final year of his deal. The Cowboys were often regarded as the frontrunners for Pickens; yet, given his extraordinary skill, it would be reasonable to assume that several other clubs would express interest.
Still, it seems that there is a fundamental reason why other companies did not go after a deal for the receiver, regardless of how small the price could have been, even with Pickens being available.
The exchange between the Steelers and the Cowboys was covered by Jeff Howe of The Athletic. Howe observed that although other teams knew Pickens was available, they seemed uninterested in negotiating a deal. Though it was not said why teams were reluctant to give Pickens a thought, it might have something to do with his passionate demeanour and infrequent drama.
Howe mentioned, “Word leaked during the draft that Pickens was available if anyone wanted him.” He in his statement further added, “Some teams polled by The Athletic at the time laughed at the idea of inviting Pickens into their locker room for any price, let alone a second-day draft pick. There wasn’t a lot of interest in talking with the Steelers about a trade.”
Giving the Steelers a B+ score, Howe determined that Pittsburgh gained from the trade, whereas the Cowboys received only a C. The Steelers secured a third-round pick from the Dallas Cowboys and along with a fifth-round pick, for Pickens for the upcoming years. As per the rumors, it is believed that the Steelers might aim for a franchise quarterback. The extra selections made by the Cowboys could give the Steelers the clout necessary to move up for better talent next year.