NFL Teams 'Laughed At The Idea' Of Trading For George Pickens Before Steelers Shipped Controversial Star To Dallas

The Pittsburgh Steelers made a bold move on Wednesday by trading George Pickens to the Dallas Cowboys. Pickens was on the last year of his contract and a deal involving the wide receiver had been speculated to be in to works since before the 2025 NFL Draft. The Cowboys were always the favorites to land Pickens, but given his exceptional skill, it would be reasonable to assume that many teams would want him. However, there is reason to believe that despite the league knowing Pickens was becoming available, they still didn't care to make a trade offer for the receiver, regardless of how little it may cost them.

On Thursday, Jeff Howe of The Athletic broke down the Steelers' trade with the Cowboys. Howe said that while other teams were aware Pickens was on the market, they still didn't care to consider a trade. It wasn't said why teams were so keen to avoid Pickens, but it may have had something to do with the receiver's fiery temper and tendency to cause drama.

"Word leaked during the draft that Pickens was available if anyone wanted him," wrote Howe. "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."

Howe said that Pittsburgh got the better end of the deal, ranking the trade a B+ for the Steelers, but only a C for the Cowboys. In exchange for Pickens, the Steelers received a 2026 third-round pick and a 2027 fifth-round pick from Dallas. It has been speculated that the Steelers will look for a franchise quarterback in the next NFL Draft, after this year's draft class, which was notoriously thin on elite signal-callers. The extra picks received from the Cowboys could help the Steelers trade up for better talent next year.

There is no question that Pickens is a highly skilled player. However, his temperament has caused many to sour on the receiver and label him a distraction. It's been speculated that one of the reasons the Steelers made no effort to re-sign Pickens was that it simply wasn't worth handling his outbursts any longer.

Pickens also never truly accepted responsibility for his actions either. Throughout the 2024 season, Pickens' teammates were asked questions about the receiver's behavior. It's possible that all of the drama surrounding Pickens piled up and became a distraction for the rest of his teammates.

Earlier in the offseason, the Steelers acquired star WR DK Metcalf. It was anticipated that together, Metcalf and Pickens could become one of the deadliest pairs of receivers in the NFL. However, it's likely that the Steelers never planned on extending Pickens and always intended for Metcalf to be his replacement.

Steelers' Wide Receiver Room Is Being Totally Rebuilt From The Previous Season

With Pickens out of the picture, Metcalf is sure to be the top offensive target in the upcoming season. The Steelers will also need Roman Wilson to step up. Wilson was drafted in 2024, but suffered two grueling injuries that forced him to sit out most of the season. Wilson is a promising prospect, and now that he's fully recovered, he reportedly looks like a whole new player. 

The success of any of the Steelers' receivers will also heavily rely on who is throwing them the ball. The Steelers are still without a clear idea of who their starting quarterback will be for 2025, and it doesn't seem like a decision will be made anytime soon. It's unfortunate, but the success of the Steelers' wide receiver room hinges on the Steelers' handling of the team's quarterback situation.