The shoe has finally dropped. After owner Jerry Jones flat-out stated the team was exploring trade possibilities, many fans and media expected the club to acquire a veteran wide receiver during the 2025 NFL draft. The team had already traded for three veteran players to help fortify their depth, using their compensatory picks to bring in LB Kenneth Murray, CB Kaiir Elam and QB Joe Milton III. However the wide receiver position opposite CeeDee Lamb remained unmanned.
When the draft came and went without the club acquiring a veteran receiver, nor without drafting one with their nine remaining picks, it appeared the club was going to have to go the late free agent market in order to improve the troops. But Jones said that the door wasn’t closed on making an additional trade. Early Wednesday morning, that came to fruition as the team landed George Pickens from the Pittsburgh Steelers.
BREAKING: Steelers to trade WR George Pickens to the Cowboys. (via @rapsheet, @TomPelissero) pic.twitter.com/Eh9kMstOPu
— NFL (@NFL) May 7, 2025
The Cowboys are sending the Steelers two picks; their 2026 third rounder and a 2027 fifth rounder. Coming back to Dallas in addition to Pickens is Pittsburgh’s 2027 sixth rounder.
Source confirms: The Cowboys get WR George Pickens and a 2027 sixth-round pick. The Steelers get a 2026 third-round pick and a 2027 fifth-round pick
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) May 7, 2025
Pickens, a 2022 second-round selection out of Georgia is a deep threat, averaging 16.3 yards per reception across his three years in the league. He’s caught at least 52 receptions each season, and has averaged 947 receiving yards a year, scoring 12 touchdowns through the air. He had 59 receptions for 900 yards in 2024 despite missing three games in the middle of the season.
At 24 years old, Pickens is entering the final season of his rookie deal. He’s been known as somewhat of a disturbance in Pittsburgh, regularly piling up fines and having sideline altercations with his teammates. It’s a very interesting choice as new head coach Brian Schottenheimer has spoken vehemently about the kind of culture he’s looking to build in his locker room.
This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Cowboys acquire WR George Pickens in swap with Steelers