The Pittsburgh Steelers made one of their most questionable decisions in recent memory early Tuesday morning — trading wide receiver George Pickens to the Dallas Cowboys. The move came as a complete shock to the fanbase and has ripple effects through a franchise already teetering offensively.
What could have been a nightmare for opposing defenses — the pairing of D.K. Metcalf and George Pickens — has instead become a self-inflicted wound for a team that couldn’t afford one.
The compensation? Almost insulting. The Steelers shipped Pickens and a 2027 sixth-round pick to Dallas in exchange for a 2026 third-rounder and a 2027 fifth-round pick.
For a player who just posted nearly 1,000 yards last season and looked to be one of the league’s fastest-rising young receivers, this feels like a giveaway. Not a calculated roster decision.
What’s more troubling is the context. Pittsburgh is already behind the curve on offense. The quarterback room is unsettled, with Mason Rudolph currently projected to start heading into training camp. That’s far from reassuring.
The Pittsburgh Steelers show signs of a rebuild with George Pickens trade
The offensive scheme under new coordinator Arthur Smith needs reliability, explosiveness, and balance — three things Pickens brought to the table.
With Pickens gone, the Steelers are leaning heavily on D.K. Metcalf, a talented veteran who now has to shoulder the full weight of the passing game. Behind him? A thin receiver room, a rotational running back in Jaylen Warren, and no proven quarterback. That’s a recipe for disaster.
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This trade doesn’t reflect the mindset of a franchise trying to win. It reflects one quietly preparing for a reset. Whether it’s due to internal friction with Pickens or a misguided belief in their depth, the Steelers have dug themselves into a hole on offense that they may not be able to climb out of this season.
Pittsburgh fans had every reason to be excited about the potential of a Metcalf-Pickens tandem. The vision was torn up for mid-round picks that won’t help them win in 2025.
Unless the front office has a surprise, it’s hard to imagine how this team plans to stay competitive, let alone thrive, without George Pickens in the lineup.