Pittsburgh Steelers fans woke up to shocking news this morning—wide receiver George Pickens had been traded to the Dallas Cowboys for a 2026 third-round pick and a late-round pick swap.
The Steelers had already lost Diontae Johnson to the Carolina Panthers last year, which left Pickens as their top wideout. But defenses keyed in on him, and the offense struggled.
Pittsburgh gave fans hope earlier this offseason by trading for DK Metcalf, raising expectations for a strong WR duo. Now, with Pickens gone, some are questioning the team’s direction.
Will the George Pickens Trade Be the Undoing of the 2025 Season?
Longtime Steelers insider Mark Kaboly of “The Pat McAfee Show” was quick to react to the Pickens trade on X.
He pointed out that Pickens didn’t ask for the move, and fans shouldn’t expect much return. Kaboly said the “organization felt it was time to move on.” Then he raised concerns about how the deal might affect Pittsburgh’s offense.
“The Steelers feel good about their WR room to make this deal. That might be a fatal flaw at least for 2025. Behind DK Metcalf they have Robert Woods, Calvin Austin, Roman Wilson as the next 3 in line followed by Scotty Miller and Ben Skowronek,” Kaboly posted on X.
The Steelers feel good about their WR room to make this deal. That might be a fatal flaw at least for 2025. Behind DK Metcalf they have Robert Woods, Calvin Austin, Roman Wilson as next 3 in line followed by Scotty Miller and Ben Skowronek. https://t.co/kS7IYBE8VL
— Mark Kaboly (@MarkKaboly) May 7, 2025
Pickens has flashed elite talent, but his antics have held him back. In 2024, things got worse. He fought opponents, taunted fans, made gun gestures, and even punted the ball into the stands. Head coach Mike Tomlin, who usually keeps things private, said Pickens needed to “grow up.”
MORE: Steelers Depth Chart After George Pickens Trade
Kaboly’s post hints that the Steelers were tired of dealing with his behavior. But his warning about 2025 rings true—it feels like the team is repeating last year’s mistakes.
Taking a Look Back at Pickens’ Time in the Steel City
Pickens was a second-round pick in 2022, falling in the draft due to injuries and character concerns.
In three seasons with Pittsburgh, he totaled 174 catches for 2,841 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Some of his struggles were out of his control. Over three years, he played with five different quarterbacks: Mitch Trubisky, Kenny Pickett, Mason Rudolph, Russell Wilson, and Justin Fields.
Pickens was entering the final year of his rookie deal, and there were real concerns about how he’d handle that without an extension. The Steelers likely decided it was better to move on now than risk more trouble in the locker room.