It looked like the Pittsburgh Steelers had their receiving duo of the future after they had acquired D.K. Metcalf in the offseason. He and George Pickens were set to set the league on fire and provide Pittsburgh with the best receiving duo in recent history.
All of that changed after Pickens was traded for a third-round pick in 2026.
Rumors had been flying all offseason that the Steelers were looking to move the former second-round pick. However, it seemed unlikely after the draft passed and no move was made. It seemed like he would play out his final year of his rookie contract before becoming a free agent.
Instead, he went to the Cowboys to boost their receiving room. Fans speculated that the move would backfire due to Pickens’s childish behavior.
We are almost halfway through October, though, and the opposite has been true. Pickens has amassed 357 yards to go along with five touchdowns. He is on pace for a career year and has eased the blow of not having CeeDee Lamb right now in Dallas.
The Pittsburgh Steelers were still right to trade George Pickens
Now, a lot of Steelers fans seem to lament this trade, saying that the team got fleeced. On paper, it certainly looks lopsided. Pickens is playing like a true top target right now, and while a third-round pick is decent, you likely aren’t getting that caliber of player with that pick.
However, when you consider every aspect of this trade, I don’t think this deal is that bad for Pittsburgh.
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For starters, the Steelers' passing offense has been running through just one player. The scheme and Aaron Rodgers really aren’t allowing much more of a passing game to develop. While he likely would have better stats than Calvin Austin currently does, he certainly wouldn’t be achieving the same success he is having in Dallas.
We saw some early antics from Pickens when he wasn’t the top dog because of Lamb. Those antics seem to intensify when he feels like he isn’t getting utilized. I’d assume we would be seeing more of that as a second fiddle to Metcalf.
Finally, the Cowboys are an effective team at getting the ball deep down the field. The Steelers are the complete opposite right now. Picken’s style would clash with how this offense is winning, causing further conflict.
At the end of the day, both sides won this trade. Dallas got a viable second option at a good price, and assuming he doesn’t implode, he will be well worth the cost. The Steelers got rid of a bad locker room presence that wasn’t going to fit their offense this year.
Should Dallas be praised for this deal? Absolutely, as Pickens has been a key piece to their offense. That said, the Steelers shouldn’t have any regrets either. This was a clear win for both sides.