It popped out of left field, but the Pittsburgh Steelers traded George Pickens to the Dallas Cowboys for a third-round pick next year and a late-round pick swap in 2027. Many believed any potential deal would've hit during the NFL Draft. They waited until after, and now Pittsburgh lacks a top receiver to pair with DK Metcalf. Hopefully, Omar Khan has a plan in mind to replace Pickens.
There are options for the Steelers to land an adequate replacement. They only need to upgrade their second receiver spot on offense. One free agent has become a clear point of interest after this move. Amari Cooper is a veteran receiver who has shown signs of regression, but he could thrive in an offense where he doesn't have to be a top target.
Everyone who watched the Steelers last season knows they struggled without a top option next to Pickens. After this deal, they are in the same boat. Unless they have another trade in the works, they might settle for a retread available in free agency.
Khan has struggled to keep the receiver position full of talent during his tenure, which has become a problematic revolving door.
Pittsburgh Steelers trade of George Pickens opens the door to sign free agent Amari Cooper
Letting Pickens go makes sense, as they don't want his toxic personality in the locker room going into a contract year. On the flip side, Pickens would've created one of the best tandems next to Metcalf. Landing a replacement that mirrors the production of Pickens is unlikely. Having two top-level receivers on your team is unusual, but Pittsburgh could've had that.
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Cooper remains the top choice available among free-agent receivers. He isn't getting any younger, but the team could use him as a stopgap as they push all their chips in the middle of the table in the 2026 NFL Draft to land a franchise quarterback.
Cooper's availability, at this point, means he has a small market, which could result in a cheap one-year contract for Pittsburgh to mull over.
Mike Tomlin knows the veteran receiver well. Cooper played in the AFC North for the Cleveland Browns for two and a half years. He is getting older, but is only a year removed from a productive season. He produced massive numbers of 1,250 receiving yards and five touchdowns in 2023.
It's hard to fathom this free agent option falling off a cliff so fast, but last year was topsy-turvy.
Cleveland struggled on offense for most of the 2024 campaign; Cooper was traded to the Buffalo Bills to try to resurrect their Super Bowl aspirations. He didn't accomplish much at either spot, but sticking with one team might help get his career back on track.
Replacing Pickens with Cooper, who will turn 31 in June, might not be ideal, but he is the best shot the Steelers have at upgrading their receiving room for 2025.