A full season has been completed since George Pickens was traded from the Pittsburgh Steelers to the Dallas Cowboys. It was a shocking deal, as many thought the Steelers acquired DK Metcalf to help create a dynamic offense with Pickens in the fold. With a questionable future regarding his contract, Pittsburgh decided to ship Pickens out of town, a move they have come to regret.
Pickens has found ways to make plays, even during his three seasons in a dreadful offense with the Steelers. He found ways to compile impressive stat lines, and it was clear his talent was elite. His biggest red flags were his personality and commitment to football. The receiver became difficult to manage and repeatedly ignored team rules on practice and gameday reporting.
It led to a fractured locker room, and it made sense to send Pickens out of town. While they moved on from a headache, they also lost one of the best receivers in the NFL. It's not like Dallas paid an arm and a leg for the elite playmaker. They paid a reasonable trade price for a receiver who is on an expiring contract this offseason. That contract commitment was another factor in this past divorce.
Pittsburgh Steelers continue to be biggest loser of the George Pickens blockbuster trade
For those of you who forgot the trade, it is listed above. Pickens was acquired for a third-round pick, and moving up roughly 30 picks in the draft next year. That’s not a steep price, yet it has made General Manager Omar Khan appear ineffective. The former Steelers receiver went to Dallas and thrived on the football field. He is coming off the best statistical season of his career.
That career-best campaign couldn't have come at a better time for him.
Pickens is scheduled to hit free agency and can start negotiating with other clubs on March 9 if the Cowboys don't extend his contract or place the franchise tag on him. It's clear to most of Steelers Nation that unless Pickens gets heavily compensated on his next deal, he won't be happy. Placing the franchise tender on him is a bad idea. The receiver would likely sit out and wait for a long-term deal.
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Dallas has enjoyed the benefits of adding Pickens to their explosive offense. He tallied elite numbers, and entering the free agency process, he is the top receiver on the board.
The 24-year-old weapon posted an impressive 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns off of a whopping 93 receptions. To compare, his best season with the Steelers saw him produce 1,140 yards and five touchdowns off of 63 receptions.
Pickens' time with the Cowboys saw him take his talents to new heights with Dak Prescott as his quarterback. In Pittsburgh, he couldn’t fully develop because of the poor quarterback play he had to work with. The young receiver probably won't make it to free agency, but Dallas must be careful. He is a terrific weapon on the field, but he can be a pain off of it.