The Pittsburgh Steelers have traded wide receiver George Pickens to the Dallas Cowboys, according to multiple reports. In exchange, the Steelers will receive a 2026 third-round draft pick and a 2027 fifth-round pick. The Cowboys will also receive a 2027 sixth-round pick in the deal.
Pickens, 24, is entering the final year of his rookie contract. The Steelers selected him in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft out of the University of Georgia. In his three seasons with the Steelers, Pickens recorded 174 receptions for 2,841 yards and 12 touchdowns. He led the team in receiving yards in both the 2023 and 2024 seasons.
While Pickens displayed undeniable talent, his tenure in Pittsburgh was marked by on-field outbursts and occasional sideline confrontations.
This move echoes previous Steelers’ decisions to trade talented but sometimes volatile receivers, including Antonio Brown, Martavis Bryant and Diontae Johnson.
The trade leaves a significant void in the Steelers’ receiving corps alongside DK Metcalf, whom the team acquired via trade earlier this offseason. Calvin Austin III, veteran Robert Woods, and 2024 third-round pick Roman Wilson are currently the other viable receivers on the active roster.
Steelers Banking on Wilson’s Development, Expected to Add Another Wide Receiver
The Steelers are counting on a significant leap in performance from second-year receiver Roman Wilson, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. Wilson, a third-round selection in the 2024 NFL Draft, reportedly looks like a different player this offseason after an injury-riddled rookie campaign that saw him play only five offensive snaps. The team believes Wilson’s improved health and increased understanding of the offense will allow him to contribute meaningfully in 2025.
Furthermore, NFL insider Ian Rapoport indicated on Good Morning Football that the Steelers are likely not finished adding to their wide receiver room.
“I would be surprised if the Steelers are done at the receiver position,” Rapoport said. “Likely to at least sign one more and there are a couple talented receivers still on the market.”
The Steelers could explore several avenues to bolster their receiving group. Free agency still offers some experienced options, including Keenan Allen and Amari Cooper, both of whom have Pro Bowl pedigrees. Gabriel Davis, who was released by the Jacksonville Jaguars earlier this morning, is another option.
Another possibility is that the Steelers could utilize their abundance of draft capital, or other assets, to trade for a receiver. Pittsburgh now possesses three third-round draft picks in the 2026 NFL Draft. This abundance of mid-round selections provides the Steelers with ammunition to make a move if an attractive option becomes available.
Steelers brass will need to act swiftly to ensure they have adequate receiving talent to compete in the upcoming 2025 season. The acquisition of Metcalf signaled a commitment to upgrading the position, and the trade of Pickens necessitates further action to provide quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who the team hopes to sign, with reliable targets.
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