The Dallas Cowboys made a big splash in the NFL by trading for out-of-favor Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens. The deal sends Pickens to Dallas in the final year of his rookie contract, as he’s currently expected to become a free agent after the 2025 season.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones had promised that he was working on “pretty substantive trades” before the NFL Draft. Fans had been frustrated by the lack of offensive playmakers the team drafted, but now it makes much more sense.
According to reports, the Cowboys had been “working the phones” to get a deal done for a wide receiver and zeroed in on Pickens to close the deal.
Dallas Cowboys Trade for George Pickens in Exchange for Third-Rounder
The trade has been reported as a third-round pick going to the Steelers, along with additional pick swaps. In exchange, the Cowboys get a wide receiver looking to prove himself in what could be a crucial year for his young NFL career.
Pickens has played with a carousel of quarterbacks in his three seasons in Pittsburgh. He started out with Kenny Pickett, Mitch Trubisky, and Mason Rudolph, then switched to a mix of Russell Wilson and Justin Fields in 2024.
Even with five different starting quarterbacks in three years, Pickens has shown he can be a dangerous threat in man-to-man coverage. His 2023 season was his best yet. He caught 63 passes for 1,140 yards and five touchdowns as the Steelers made the playoffs with a 10-7 record.
Pickens will now look to prove himself with a new team, hoping to earn a big deal. Dallas could try to sign him to an extension, or he may choose to test free agency if no deal is done in time.
Considering DK Metcalf recently signed a four-year, $132 million contract in Pittsburgh, there’s a lot of money available for star wide receivers — and Pickens could be next in line.
Evaluating the Cowboys’ 2025 Wide Receiver Depth Chart
- CeeDee Lamb
- George Pickens
- Jalen Tolbert
- Jonathan Mingo
- KaVontae Turpin
- Ryan Flournoy
- Jalen Brooks
- Kelvin Harmon
- Parris Campbell
The Cowboys’ 2025 receiver group will still be led by CeeDee Lamb, one of the league’s most productive players in recent years. In 2023, he posted career highs with 1,749 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns. Then, last season, Lamb followed it up with 100+ receptions and nearly 1,200 yards receiving.
In 2024, his third season, Jalen Tolbert made a leap, finishing with 49 catches for 610 yards and seven touchdowns—new career bests.
Dallas added wide receiver Jonathan Mingo via trade midway through the 2024 season, but the former second-round pick only recorded five catches in eight games.
KaVontae Turpin is an elite return specialist, but he’s also been a solid offensive contributor, working mostly out of the slot.
Pickens gives the Cowboys a reliable 1-on-1 threat on the outside. He should see plenty of isolated matchups as the second option behind Lamb. That wasn’t the case in Pittsburgh, and it could make a big difference in his production for 2025.