The Dallas Cowboys took a lot of heat for failing to address one of their top needs—wide receiver—on Day 1 or 2 of the 2025 NFL Draft. In fact, they didn’t draft a receiver at all, which has led to confusion among analysts and fans.
Owner Jerry Jones recently said that the team could still address wide receiver prior to the start of the season. The logical conclusion is that the team is looking to make a trade, and one of the most logical candidates is Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens.
Now, one of the NFL’s top analysts drops a bombshell on Cowboys fans about Pickens’ possible future in Big D.
Did the Cowboys Blow Their Pursuit of George Pickens?
The Cowboys have some young hopefuls in their wide receiver room, like Jonathan Mingo and Jalen Tolbert. However, other than CeeDee Lamb, they have no one with real star power.
This has led to rumors tying them to many of the potential tradeable WR1s and WR2s in the league, including Pickens. But Dianna Russini from The Athletic squashed that rumor on a recent episode of her podcast, “Scoop City.”
Teams including the Cowboys had trade discussions with the Steelers surrounding WR George Pickens before and during the draft, @DMRussini reports.
But now, his chances of being dealt are less likely.
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— The Athletic NFL (@TheAthleticNFL) April 29, 2025
In a post on X, Russini said, “George Pickens’ name was tossed around in trade discussions this past week. The Cowboys were one of the teams that discussed bringing in the Steelers’ wideout, sources tell me.”
“But with the draft in the rearview, expect the trade buzz to cool surrounding Pickens,” Russini added.
The Cowboys have reportedly had talks with the Steelers about acquiring Pickens. But now, Russini says the door has likely closed on those conversations.
Russini also said that during the draft, there were “conversations flying around” between the Steelers and other teams, including the Cowboys. However, she now thinks that at this point in the offseason, nothing will happen.
Pickens Has Positives and Negatives
Pickens would provide an immediate upgrade in Dallas and help take some of the pressure off Lamb. That is a situation Pickens himself is all too familiar with.
In 2024, Pickens was in Lamb’s spot as Pittsburgh’s only elite receiver. The Steelers had traded Diontae Johnson after the 2023 season and failed to land a counterpart for Pickens despite trying for Brandon Aiyuk, Christian Kirk, and others.
That meant that during the 2024 season, defenses keyed in on Pickens.
While Pickens’ talent remains unquestioned, his behavior seemed to escalate during 2024. He was criticized for inappropriate messages, fighting with opponents, taunting fans, being late to team meetings and games, and for his effort on the field. At times, Pickens also appeared to give up on plays or fail to block for teammates.
The 2025 season will be a critical one for Pickens, as it’s the final year of his rookie contract. He has to show the Steelers that he’s a valuable asset to ensure there’s a bidding war for his services in free agency.