The Pittsburgh Steelers made headlines once again, this time by trading wide receiver George Pickens to the Dallas Cowboys. In return, the Steelers received a 2026 third-round pick and a 2027 fifth-round pick, while the Cowboys got Pickens and a 2027 sixth-round pick.
The writing had been on the wall for Pickens, whose attitude became a bigger concern with each passing season. The Steelers had no plans to pay him in free agency next year and did not want to let him walk without getting anything in return. They had already brought in his replacement in DK Metcalf.
On paper, an offense with both Metcalf and Pickens looked dangerous, but the Steelers were not willing to find out how that would unfold with potential problems likely to surface over the summer and into the season during a contract year.
With Pickens gone, the Steelers are back in a familiar situation with their wide receiver group. They need to get on the phone with this team from the NFC North and make a move to avoid repeating last year's struggles with lackluster playmakers.
Time for Pittsburgh Steelers to call Green Bay and ask which WR is on the block
Last offseason, the Steelers decided they had had enough of the issues with Diontae Johnson and sent him to Carolina in what was essentially a player swap, receiving Donte Jackson in return. Now they have made a similar move by trading George Pickens in a contract year, making it clear once again that they are not willing to deal with drama any longer.
No matter how you feel about the move, it was a smart business decision. The Steelers gained future draft capital for a player who was never going to be on the roster next season. This may also be a signal that the organization is done dealing with players who believe they are bigger than the team.
The past two draft classes have shown a clear focus on selecting players with strong character and team-first attitudes. The trade was not surprising. It felt like only a matter of time. But now that it has happened, the Steelers cannot afford to sit back and remain inactive.
That is exactly what they did last year after trading Diontae Johnson. They failed to make a follow-up move and had to settle for Van Jefferson as their number two wide receiver.
You would think the Steelers learned from that mistake. This time, they cannot just hope that DK Metcalf is enough while relying on Calvin Austin and Roman Wilson, who did not even play last season, to step into larger roles. The Steelers need to pick up the phone and call the Green Bay Packers to explore the possibility of a trade for one of their receivers.
The Packers used a first-round pick on Matthew Golden and a third-round pick on Savion Williams in this year’s draft. That creates a crowded receiver room with the possibility of someone being pushed out. Two names to watch are Romeo Doubs and Dontayvion Wicks.
Doubs is the more likely trade target. He is entering a contract year and has had some issues with the team in Green Bay. Wicks is less likely to be moved, as he has two more years on his deal, but he would be a great fit in Pittsburgh. He is a smooth route runner and would fill the void that has existed since the team moved on from Diontae Johnson.
If the Steelers trade for Doubs, they would need to consider a new contract to make the deal worthwhile. But if the goal is to build for the future, the real question should be whether Wicks is available and what it would take to get him. Pittsburgh has 12 picks in next year’s draft, so losing one should not be a major concern if it helps fix the wide receiver position for the long term.