Many Pittsburgh Steelers fans were hopeful that general manager Omar Khan would execute a trade for a wide receiver in the waning hours before the NFL trade deadline. Though the Steelers were in conversations with the Las Vegas Raiders to land Jakobi Meyers, they were ultimately outbid by the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Now, fans are getting a painful reminder of the decision that led them to need wide receiver help in the first place: trading George Pickens to the Dallas Cowboys in May.
On Thursday, Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report published his rankings of the top 50 NFL free agents on track to hit free agency during the 2025 offseason. Interesting, quarterback Aaron Rodgers ranked 50th (no doubt due to the fact that he turns 42 in December). But Pickens ranked second on the list.
"Wide receiver George Pickens should be thrilled he got the 2025 change of scenery he did," Knox wrote on B/R. "He was beginning to earn a reputation as a problem player in Pittsburgh. We haven't heard any negatives about the 24-year-old in Dallas, and he's having a career year. Pickens is on pace to top the 1,140 receiving yards he had in 2023, and while he may not be a true No. 1 receiver, he's a heck of a second option. His next contract should reflect that."
Knox went on to explain that Pickens could earn a contract extension in the $28-$30 million per year range, similar to what players like Jaylen Waddle and Tee Higgins received.
Through his first nine games with the Cowboys, Pickens has earned 49 receptions on 72 targets for 764 yards. His six receiving touchdowns are already a career high, and he's on track to crush his career numbers in receptions and receiving yards as well.
The Pittsburgh Steelers may not have been able to retain George Pickens if he hadn't been traded
Knowing that the Pittsburgh Steelers lack proven options at the wide receiver position and seeing what he can do this year, it's hard not to regret sending George Pickens packing for a third-round pick. But had he stayed, things wouldn't have worked as smoothly as they have in Dallas.
There's a reason Pickens was traded—he was becoming a headache too big for the organization to handle. The young wideout was developing a reputation as a diva, thanks to his visible lack of effort on the field at times and his questionable responses to the media.
But even if Pickens had stayed in Pittsburgh and kept his head on straight, there was still a good chance the Steelers were never going to make it work long-term.
READ MORE: Steelers’ lack of trades speaks volumes to two young wideouts
Early in the 2025 offseason, the Steelers traded a second-round pick to the Seattle Seahawks for wide receiver DK Metcalf, then signed the veteran to a $30 million-per-season contract. Could Omar Khan really justify handing Pickens a similar contract after what the team just invested in Metcalf?
Considering the issues the Steelers had with Pickens during his first three seasons, this organization likely never trusted him enough to give the talented wide receiver a boatload of guaranteed money. And perhaps the Cowboys won't either.
There's still plenty of time left in the season for Pickens to fall back down to earth or put his emotions on full display. The Cowboys aren't guaranteed to give him a contract extension either.
At the end of the day, Pickens was always going to hit free agency had he remained on the Steelers, and Khan opted for a third-round pick over a one-year rental of a player they've had trouble with over the years.