Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones talked about a trade being in the works, and he was true to his word. The long-suffering franchise added a receiver to pair with CeeDee Lamb by landing George Pickens from the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The trade came in a relatively slow news week for the NFL, after the NFL Draft, with all eyes on the NFL schedule release set for May 14. The Pickens’ trade has prompted many media analysts and former players to weigh in on the move, including ESPN analyst and former Cowboys defensive end Marcus Spears.
Marcus Spears Applauds George Pickens Trade
Spears, who played in Dallas from 2005-12, has been very critical of Jones and his former team over the years while speaking freely during weekly media appearances. However, the former-player-turned-analyst expressed approval of this trade.
Spears reacted to the news on the social media platform X by writing: “I’m critical of Jerry but This is a winning move.”
I’m critical of Jerry but This is a winning move. Go @dallascowboys pic.twitter.com/MPSbKMXJgD
— Marcus Spears (@mspears96) May 7, 2025
Nicknamed “Swagu”, Spears appeared in 123 games for the Cowboys and collected 10 sacks over eight seasons in Dallas. He spent a lone season in Baltimore before joining ESPN in 2014, first as a college football analyst before joining “NFL Live” in 2019.
Cowboys Get Offensive Weapon for Dak Prescott
To acquire Pickens, the Cowboys gave up a third-round draft pick next year and received the lesser of a late-round pick swap in 2027.
The 24-year-old receiver has been the Steelers’ best offensive weapon since joining the team as a second-round pick in 2022. Pickens ranks first on the Steelers in multiple receiving metrics. He has 2,841 receiving yards in the past three seasons, far ahead of Pat Freiermuth in second place at 1,693 yards. He also leads the team in receptions (174) and receiving touchdowns (12).
However, his behavior has been a sore subject and a talking point at times. A report by The Athletic’s Mike DeFabo last season indicated that his own teammates were running out of patience with Pickens.
“I’m not speculating with this. There are players who are like sick of it,” DeFabo said on 93.7 The Fan. “That’s not just me making something up or trying to put myself in these players’ shoes, players have said that to me.”
Pickens complained about a lack of targets by writing “Open F****** Always” on the eye-black across his face in a game against the Dallas Cowboys. It was also reported that he showed up to team meeting late, leading to head coach Mike Tomlin and offensive coordinator Arthur Smith reducing his snap count.
With the arrival of D.K. Metcalf in a trade earlier in the offseason, Pickens would likely be the No. 2 option for Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott in Dallas. However, this trade allows Pickens to rewrite his legacy and restart his career.