It was almost a year ago that the Pittsburgh Steelers traded away George Pickens in exchange for the Cowboys' third-round pick in this draft. Looking back on the deal, it certainly feels like the team made the right decision.
Yes, Pickens had a monster season in Dallas, and it left many Pittsburgh fans lamenting the deal. Only getting a third-round pick for a superstar receiver doesn’t feel like great value. However, given how the offseason has gone for both teams, this feels like a win.
The Steelers have reconstructed their receiver room and are expected to add another name early in this draft. While one could argue that Pickens is still the best player out of both rosters, he is once again causing drama.
The Pittsburgh Steelers avoided the George Pickens circus
Following his breakout season, the Cowboys were quick to place the franchise tag on Pickens. This ensured that they kept control of him for at least this season.
However, as we have seen in other cases, the franchise tag can complicate things. A player can delay things by not signing the tag, and more often than not, teams and players use this as leverage for a new deal.
Pickens rightly wants to capitalize on his incredible season. Given how hot the receiver market has been, the former Steelers receiver likely wants a deal near the top of the market.
Had the Steelers not traded Pickens, it feels like this situation would have imploded. I was adamant that he wasn’t a good fit for Pittsburgh with Aaron Rodgers at the helm, and I continue to believe that had he not been traded, his breakout season would have been muted.
Even if he had risen to the occasion, the team would be stuck in the same spot that the Cowboys are in right now. Once again, the spotlight is on Pickens, and once again, people are questioning his maturity amid his contract dispute.
While long-term questions remain in this room, the Steelers have made some cheap improvements to provide some stability to the room right now. Assuming they add some young talent in the draft, that could go a long way in firming up the room for the future.
Compare that to the circus going on in Dallas, and it is clear; the Steelers won this trade.
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