The Pittsburgh Steelers made plenty of bold changes to their roster this offseason, and many of them had obvious reasons behind them. The Aaron Rodgers move was the best (and last) option at quarterback. The Minkah Fitzpatrick/Jalen Ramsey trade was a gamble on getting a more impactful defender after a couple of down years from Fitzpatrick.
Perhaps the biggest (and most expensive) move was the trade and subsequent extension for DK Metcalf, and it led to the departure of the explosive but difficult to work with George Pickens.
Pickens' attitude was clearly something Pittsburgh was tired of, likely exacerbated by all of the other strange issues that their playmakers have had in recent years. Now that he is in Dallas, however, it appears things could be changing, according to NFL insider Peter Schrager.
George Pickens may be turning a corner as a true locker room asset after Pittsburgh Steelers departure
Appearing on The Pat McAfee Show, Schrager was asked about what the Cowboys offense could look like this year. Pickens was mentioned briefly as a guy who could benefit from a big year, but it's what he said about his presence in the locker room that has fans interested.
"The rap on him (Pickens) is that he is a bad vibes for the locker room guy, so far in Dallas he has been great in the locker room", Schrager said.
"George Pickens has been great in the Cowboys locker room and he's in a contract year..
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If that is true, it's a massive change to how the former second-round pick was viewed in Pittsburgh. Players can change, and it's not like he was outright terrible as a teammate and person while with the Steelers, but it's still a dramatic shift in personality in just one offseason.
The change in scenery (even with the bad vibes in Dallas right now) is likely a huge contributor to his change in attitude. Getting to play with Dak Prescott and next to CeeDee Lamb is a massive upgrade to his supporting cast in Pittsburgh, and it could set him up for a huge second contract after the 2025 season.
Things may be looking up for now with his locker room vibes, but if the Cowboys struggle without Micah Parsons on defense and a new look offensive line, Steelers fans certainly won't be surprised if he starts to become a problem. No matter how talented he may be, Pittsburgh shipped him out of town for a reason, even with their ongoing issues at wide receiver.