George Pickens trade: Peter Schrager points to ‘desperate times’ for Cowboys

The George Pickens trade from the Steelers to the Cowboys pointed to desperate times for Dallas, according to ESPN’s Peter Schrager. They needed a splash, and well, they’ve made it.

After passing and missing on wide receivers in the NFL Draft, the Cowboys needed a No. 2 for CeeDee Lamb. As Schrager pointed out, this is gut check time for the Cowboys and Dak Prescott going into 2025.

The Steelers were willing to walk away and obtain draft capital for the talented, but problematic, wide receiver. Now, Dallas has to be all-in to make it work.

“Desperate times call for desperate measures. They whiff in the draft. They didn’t get that guy, McMillan, goes eight to the Panthers,” Schrager said on Get Up. “And they’re sitting there at 12, they take an offensive lineman, and they’re preaching to everyone it’s about culture, culture … This to me, is ‘we went all through March, we went all through April, we didn’t get the number two.’ CeeDee Lamb got 73 more targets than their number two wide receiver a year ago. 

“(Trading for George Pickens) is them banking on Dak Prescott being a leader, being able to run that wide receivers room saying, ‘I got this. We can handle this.’ And it’s them banking on a first year head coach who’s been in the league a long time that hasn’t been given an opportunity to be a head coach, being able to say, ‘culture matters. And this guy is gonna be able to fit in our culture.’ I will add this though, first year head Coach, Jerry after a loss, what happens at the media, and if things don’t go his way he doesn’t get the targets? This is going to be the ultimate test for Dak Prescott how he can handle this and we’re gonna see if he really is a $60 million man.”

Pickens appeared in 14 games last season as he missed some time with an injury. During that time, he hauled in 59 receptions for 900 yards and three touchdowns as a key piece of the Steelers’ passing attack. That came after an impressive second year in the NFL in 2023 when he had a career-high 1,140 yards and five touchdowns. His 18.1 yards per reception led the league that season.

His tenure in Pittsburgh was turbulent at times. Pickens has arrived for games and meetings later than requested by coaches, as well as arguing with fans during games. There was plenty of talk about the Steelers possibly moving on from Pickens during last season, and now, the Cowboys have decided to be the team that makes the move for him, despite these concerns.