The biggest post-draft move of the 2025 NFL offseason was undoubtedly the trade that sent George Pickens from the Pittsburgh Steelers to the Dallas Cowboys.
The move fulfilled a long-standing expectation among Cowboys fans that the team would finally bring in a true complement to CeeDee Lamb, who had been carrying the receiving corps on his own.
However, the Steelers’ decision to part ways with Pickens didn’t sit well with many analysts and former players. Among the critics was former wide receiver Plaxico Burress, who questioned the franchise’s handling of the situation and expressed frustration over Pittsburgh trading away Pickens.
Plaxico Burress Says George Pickens Is a Top 5 Receiver
The Steelers’ plan for the 2025 NFL season remains unclear. It’s already May, and the team still hasn’t named a starting quarterback, with Mason Rudolph currently leading the race — all while the shadow of Aaron Rodgers continues to loom over the organization.
Despite the uncertainty under center, Pittsburgh made a bold move by trading for Seattle Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf and handing him a massive four-year, $132 million extension. Paired with Pickens, the Steelers briefly had one of the most intriguing wide receiver duos in the league. But that excitement was short-lived — just days after the draft, Pickens was shipped to the Cowboys.
During a May 11 appearance on Fox Sports Radio, Burress, a former Steelers wideout and Super Bowl champion, weighed in on the NFL’s top receiver duos and suggested that Pittsburgh may have made a major mistake by moving on from Pickens.
“I don’t believe that, when it comes down to playing the position and playing the game of football, that DK Metcalf is a better wide receiver than George Pickens,” Burress said. “We know that George Pickens, when he’s playing and he’s focused, he’s one of the top five ballplayers at the position. There’s no dispute in that. There’s no doubt about it.”
Claiming that Pickens is a top-five receiver in the NFL is certainly bold, especially considering his numbers don’t quite support it. Over three seasons, he has totaled 2,841 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns — solid stats, but far from elite territory among the league’s top wideouts.
However, in defense of the argument, Pickens has often been described as a player who struggles with consistency and focus. That’s exactly the angle Burress addressed: if he can harness his full potential and match his talent with discipline and dedication, he could finally produce at the level many believe he’s capable of.
“But we got to get the young man focused so we can reach his full potential and become one of these elite wide receivers in all of football. This is what we know,” he added. “If he’s getting 10, 11, 12+ targets, now we’re going to see George Pickens take off and be that elite wide receiver that we know.”
In six seasons with the Seahawks, Metcalf has never posted fewer than 900 receiving yards and has surpassed the 1,000-yard mark three times — a model of consistency and production. For Pickens to stake a claim as the better receiver, he’ll need to prove he can match that level of output and reliability.
While many analysts praise Pickens’ raw talent, consistent production has yet to follow. Now, in a Cowboys offense where he won’t be the focal point, he may finally find the right environment to develop into the elite receiver some believe he can become.