George Pickens was widely mentioned as a trade candidate during the 2025 NFL Draft, but his market was reportedly never high.
On Wednesday, the Dallas Cowboys acquired the star wide receiver and a 2027 sixth-round pick from the Pittsburgh Steelers in exchange for 2026 third and 2027 fifth-round draft selections. Pickens is entering the final year of his four-year rookie deal.
To many, third and fifth-round draft picks marked a surprisingly low price for a young wide receiver who’s only 24 years of age. Despite lacking an elite quarterback during his three years in Pittsburgh, Pickens has exceeded the 50-catch and 800-yard marks in his first three seasons.
According to a report from Jeff Howe of The Athletic, Dallas landed George Pickens at a low price, simply because rival teams didn’t want him.
Howe reports that the Georgia product “was available if anyone wanted him”, but teams “laughed at the idea” of trading for him:
“The Cowboys paid a steep price to solve a clear need. If it works out, Pickens wakes up, signs an extension and produces for years, this trade grade will need a big bump. But it’s reasonable to be skeptical that’ll happen.
Word leaked during the draft that Pickens was available if anyone wanted him. 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.”
It’s common knowledge among NFL fans that Pickens was a problem in the Steelers’ locker room. Usually-relaxed head coach Mike Tomlin publicly stated that Pickens had to “grow up” after taking two careless penalties in a win against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Aside from questions about his locker room antics and behavior, there’s no questioning the talent Pickens brings to the table. Pickens showed signs of morphing into a superstar in 2023, when he caught 63 passes for 1,140 yards and five touchdowns.
George Pickens Fills A Pressing Need For Cowboys
The Cowboys have been searching for a capable No. 2 receiver to complement CeeDee Lamb since they traded Amari Cooper to the Cleveland Browns in 2022. Pickens isn’t a true WR1, but he should produce nicely in a pass-heavy Dallas offense with opposing teams mostly focusing on Lamb.