George Pickens Trade Winners and Losers Revealed

The Dallas Cowboys checked a major box on their offseason plan after acquiring an explosive receiver in George Pickens Wednesday morning following a trade with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The move is the latest step in an offseason commitment to setting the team up for success and aid first-time head coach Brian Schottenheimer.

While this addition doesn't necessarily fit Schotty's "run-heavy" offensive scheme or his "high-character" philosophy, Pickens still turns Dallas into as balanced an offense as there is in the NFL.

But that is not without acknowledging some concerns on both sides. Here is a breakdown of the trade's biggest winners and losers as things stand 24 hours after the deal.

WINNER(S): Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb

The dynamic duo for the Cowboys' pass game just turned into a trio. Adding Pickens to this star-studded offense creates arguably a top receiver duo and provides Prescott with plenty of route options all over the field.

They will still need to all get on the same page, but both Prescott and Lamb now have an extra weapon to help their offense hum through the air.

LOSER: Pittsburgh Offense

Head coach Mike Tomlin is going to have a very tough time keeping his above .500 record streak alive with this new-look offense. Although the Steelers brought in DK Metcalf this offseason, the receiver may still be wondering who will throw him the ball.

He'll also be the team's glaring No. 1 option offensively, which will draw constant double teams and make things difficult for whoever the starting quarterback is ... at this moment Mason Rudolph.

WINNER: Pittsburgh's Young Receivers

If the offense is a current downgrade, there remains a giant opportunity for the Steelers' young receiving core to rise to the occasion and make an impact.

Pittsburgh is expecting Roman Wilson and Calvin Austin III each to have legit shot at turning into the team's No. 2 pass catcher with the increased touches they will see.

The Steelers will also feature a rookie running back in Kaleb Johnson, and if he gets off to a rough start, the offense will have to move through the air. This allows both youngsters an opportunity make a name for themselves.

LOSER: Jake Ferguson

The only loser on the Cowboys' offense on this list (definitively) is the starting tight end Ferguson.

Heading into 2025, there has been a lot of chatter of Ferguson under pressure to return to top form after a down year last season. With the addition of Pickens, he will get much less targets and a limited opportunity to make that rebound.

While this could be a benefit, allowing Fergie to only stick to his best routes and being let off of some pressure and responsibility, the move does not help his chances if his goal was to return to that No. 2 level receiving impact he was in 2023.

WINNER: Jerry Jones

He's still got it.

Jones shocked the NFL world by pulling this trade off. On paper, many think it's a larger benefit for the Cowboys given Pickens' extraordinary athletic potential and no large risk other than his attitude.

If he performs great? Dallas signs him to a contract that keeps the Lamb/Pickens tandem together. If not? He leaves in free agency next offseason and Dallas acquires a third-round draft pick in 2027.

Either way, Jerry looks good for it. He also finally puts an end to fans' disgruntled attitudes about his offseason aggressiveness, for now.

LOSER: Pittsburgh's Aaron Rodgers Hopes

With one less receiving option, there is a much lower chance Rodgers chooses to sign with the Steelers.

Of course, this situation is still ongoing and nobody knows where the 41-year-old's head is at, but with this considerable downgrade in offensive firepower, it's harder to believe Pittsburgh still has a good pitch to entice into Rodgers being their QB1.

WINNER: George Pickens

No one has a greater opportunity in light of this trade than the man at the center of it.

Pickens has heard the noise about his behavior being a factor. This is his chance to prove people wrong. He may not always get what he wants in Dallas, but that is understandable.

To get the most out of his role and earn his second NFL contract, he will have to commit to the process.

If he does so, Pickens turns into a much better football player with a reliable co-star, high-level quarterback, and excited fan base rooting him on.