REPORT: Steelers slated to trade George Pickens to the Cowboys
The Pittsburgh Steelers have been rumored to be shopping George Pickens dating back to before the 2025 NFL Draft. And, if that were true, it would have made sense. They had already acquired DK Metcalf via trade from the Seattle Seahawks, and trading him before the draft would have allowed them to draft a receiver to help fill the void left after the Pickens trade.
The draft came and went with no trade, but the rumors didn’t die down. In fact, the rumors have heated up to the point where it is now being reported the Steelers are trading George Pickens to the Dallas Cowboys.
At first the rumors were just among smaller, less known, accounts on social media. As of Wednesday morning, more trusted, and national, sources have now joined in and are saying the trade should be announced as early as today.
ESPN sources: Dallas and Pittsburgh are working to finalize a trade that will send wide receiver George Pickens to the Cowboys in exchange for draft pick compensation. The trade is expected to be finalized today. pic.twitter.com/EJvTb9KHG4
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) May 7, 2025
The next logical question most people will have when reading this story is what is the trade compensation?
Most would assume it would have to be at least a 3rd Round draft pick, considering Pickens could land them a 3rd Round pick in the compensatory formula if he leaves after 2025 in free agency. According to multiple sources, the trade will be for a 3rd Round selection, and a late round pick swap.
This per Adam Schefter of ESPN:
Sources: The trade between Pittsburgh and Dallas is expected to include a third-round pick and other pick swaps. pic.twitter.com/EZ6vgtxriB
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) May 7, 2025
Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated is now saying the 3rd Round pick is in 2025, but the pick swap is in 2027.
The Steelers are trading WR George Pickens to the Cowboys for a 2026 third-round pick, and a late-round pick swap in 2027 that favors Pittsburgh, per sources. So Dallas got Dak a new bodyguard in the draft, and a new weapon today.
(@AdamSchefter first on the trade.)
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) May 7, 2025
The trade has now become official, thanks to the Dallas Cowboys social media team, and you can read the final details of the trade HERE.
Welp…back to square one😅😅😅
I’ll be curious if it is the Cowboys given 3rd Round pick. If so, you have to wonder if Pickens would have gotten them a 3rd Round comp pick or not.
It creates a hole in the roster, yes, but I can’t say I’m shocked this is happening.
I’m not shocked but it puts a damper on my view of the season. No one in Steelers nation is “happy” about this trade, you’re either annoyed or neutral about it
I am happy about it. We get more draft capital to get a franchise QB next year and move on from a drama queen who wasn’t going to resign with the Steelers anyways. I half expected him to hold out if he did not get an extension before the season.
I’m not like upset or happy about it, I’m more like “yea makes sense”
We get a draft pick for a chance to get a franchise QB next year.
Very Well, I hereby am 1000% wishing that the 26 QB fails beyond belief so that I can gloat over Steeler Fans wanting a QB that doesn’t exist. I know you won’t like what I’m saying but so what, I’m the only one whose willing to call fans out for their BS attitudes. All I hear is fans gloating over the trade of Pickens, literally begging for a 2–4 win season and for what? A QB that isn’t going to be there. See it’s time to separate the fakers from the real fans. Since nobody on any Steeler Site or Twitter is willing to do it then I will since I’m the only person with any guts to call out fans with the wrong attitude.
What kind of fan would root for his team’s QB to ‘fail beyond belief’ just so he can gloat about being “right”?
Certainly not a “real fan” as you put it.
Not a real fan at all. He previously admitted he didn’t watch any games last year because of the Steelers QB situation. Fans watch games if they can, and are disappointed when they can’t. People who claim that they are fans and don’t, watch outside of not being able to, are merely people whose favorite team happens to be the Steelers. But they’re not Steelers fans.
You really think that Dave? When I said I didn’t watch any of the Steeler Games in 24 I meant that. I was dead set against watching a Steeler Team that employed Russell Wilson and Justin Fields as their QB’s. I knew who was responsible for bringing in Russ and no it wasn’t Tomlin he said “took” credit for it.
Exactly. You didn’t watch. You are a fan of your takes being right, not a fan of your “favorite team.” It is what it is.
Of course you are. I expected nothing less. I just wish you’d do it somewhere else.
Why should I? Oh, wait I know why you along with many others don’t like me badmouthing a QB class a year out. It annoys you that I’m against all the QB’s in the 26 draft. Well, I’ll tell ya what, you give me a couple of legit reasons and not the same stuff I’ve heard from many like you, I will consider changing my mind that is if you can.
Why do you have such distain for Steelers fans?? Are you actually a fan of this team?? What is it you want from us?? Lastly are you wishing for the entire class to fail or just the QB you think they’re going to draft to fail??
Honesty. Be truthful in what you say and when you say it. So many fans keep saying they can live through a 3-4 win season so long as it means getting their franchise QB and to me that’s a freaking lie. Any Steeler Fan or for that matter any Fan of an NFL team who says they can live with a bad season or losing season as many want is not really a fan but someone who can go to a site like this or twitter and gloat about it.
I can even say that there will be folks on this site and 2 other Steeler sites that will revel in a losing season for the Steelers and if you Joe or anybody else doesn’t believe me when I say that go read the comments of these fans and you tell me?
Anytime I comment about the Steelers or the fans I speak honestly about it, I don’t advocate for losing nor do I hold back when I vehemently disagree with things (Pickett, Pickens, MR, TJ Watt, and banking on Comp Picks). I would rather have Winning Season after Winning Season than suffer 1 losing season, even if that means never seeing a SuperBowl Win in Pittsburgh so be it. Sure, come back and say “You’d rather live mediocrity than success” but those would your words not mine.
I live to see Wins more than losses, I live to see success, I don’t accept attitude that is being use by so many Steeler Fans that tis better to lose than win.
Now if you want me to explain the things I disagree with as i listed them I will gladly tell 1 and all who will listen.
I don’t think fans are being dishonest with their comments, and I don’t understand why those comments upset you so much. Also, if those comments are so irritating to you I really don’t understand why you keep comming back to read them.
Honestly, there’s really only ever a couple fans suggesting they should tank, and typically those comments are met with a lot of pushback. So I’m really not sure why you think this occurs with any regularity. The majority of the comments on this article are debating if this was a good move or not, and how to plug the hole that now exists in the roster. You are driving the narrative that this was done for a 26 QB.
Honestly my guy, you need to lighten up. We can disagree with each other without getting as angry as we Steelers fans seem to so easily make you. This is a fan page, all we do is react to what they’re doing in the moment – none of us have access to the big picture of why the front office is doing what they’re doing. Furthermore none of us, including you, can predict what a class a year from now is going to do; however, stating outright that there will be zero franchise QB’s from a class that hasn’t even met some of it teammates yet is idiotic at best.
Jeff, can you apologize to Dave for me? I was trying to rewatch Scho bro show but I just can’t with this news lol
Wow, Ed, that trade you hoped for came to fruition. Khan is a negotiator. All of that work with the Route God gone to Dallas. Does this mean AARod is still coming to Pgh? Square one, indeed.
You cant tell me this isnt the same team as last year with minimal/slight improvements at wr, rb and d line. O line is still a question mark. No QB and a defense thats getting older by the minute. I know they are the experts or whatever but I do not see the vision,
Tons of draft picks next year to make a move for a franchise QB (which there are supposedly several franchise rated QBs coming out in 2026). Plus, as I said in a long post, what have the past four high talent, high strung WR’s from the steelers done after being traded? And do you really think Pickens would extend with Pittsburgh?
Don’t like this at all. If we were going to move him for draft picks, it should have been in this year’s draft.
Yes, and no other team wanting GP for the upcoming season had to allow for the Steelers to obtain a 2025 pick at all. Dallas was rumored to have offered Pgh a 4th in the 2025 draft, Pgh held out for this 2026 3rd and a 2027 swap. Bad for multiple reasons Pgh didn’t retain GP for 2025. Perhaps FO’s tolerance has changed for certain behavior. GP’s behavior made it hard for any move, it seems.
New era. No more “me first”. (Minus Rodgers if he signs 😅)
I understand the Steelers get a third-round pick next year and a 5th-rounder in 2027. Not a very good deal for a guy who, despite his attitude issues, probably will become one of the great NFL receivers. This raises the obvious question of why they used a high draft choice on Pickens to begin with.
I made a lengthy post above, but I asked this question in it: What have the past four high talent, high strung WR’s the steelers traded done after being traded? (Bryant, Brown, Claypool and DJ). Pickens will bring super Diva attitude to Dallas who already has a number 1 receiver. Also, do you really think there was any chance he was resigning or extending? I think there was a better chance he held out this year and did not play if he didn’t get an extension.
IMO, the QB makes or breaks a receiver’s career. I assume that the Steelers FO came to view Pickens as a liability because of his previous behavior. If that’s the case, I can’t argue with trading him but they should have gotten more in the deal.
Yep, that’s the part that really doesn’t sit well with me. In what world was Chase Claypool worth a 2nd round pick and George Pickens only worth a 3rd round pick in the next year’s draft?
Can’t compare it to Claypool. No way he should have been a 2nd. It was a perfect storm of 2 teams from the same division in a bidding war that was both about gaining the player and not allowing the other team to get him. That trade should never be a measuring stick.
If you want a somewhat comparable trade, there is not a lot of difference between this and the AB trade. Steelers get a 3rd and a 5th. The difference is the 5th is another year out and they had to surrender a 6th as well.
Can’t take entire quarters off and become one of the greats. Can’t spend three years playing head games instead of football, and become one of the greats.
His potential was unreal, but he blew it.
Please don’t start the Brandon Aiyuk stuff again. I can’t take it anymore.
Why no receiver in the draft?
If I was Aaron Rodgers I would retire.
I don’t think that they could fit Aiyuk under the cap if they wanted to.
To all you people saying we are the same as last year and complaining about this trade. Here is something that you need to consider. Let us look at the last four high strung, high talent, problem receivers that the steelers traded:
Martavius Bryant
Antonio Brown
Chase Claypool
Diontae Johnson
So, everyone complaining, did they light the NFL on fire or burn out after being traded? Every fan should know the answer to that question. And Pickens was a Diva when he was THE guy getting all the balls, what would be when he is the #2 guy not getting all the balls? Both Rudolph and Rodgers love using the Tight End, he may have become the #3 target with either possible starter this year. Finally, do you really think he would be resigning with the Steelers? Anyone who thinks he was going to sign an extension with the Steelers is just fooling themselves.
Final Point, the free agent market still has some quality veterans out there that can come in and be a #2. For Example, Keenan Allen is on the Market after a 70 reception, 7 TD campaign. He would be the perfect compliment to the field stretcher Metcalf is. Amari cooper and other veterans are still out there. We don’t need a high drama, not going to resign #2 receiver. I was actually concerned Pickens would hold out of training camp if he didn’t get an extension, like Leveon did.
As it stands, we have a glut of draft picks next year to use and move up to get a legit young franchise QB. Yet, I mostly see everyone here complaining about a receiver that we were never going to be able to resign anyways. The same people who said we were going nowhere this year anyways yet now are complaining they made a move for the future.
Yes.
What happened with those WRs is irrelevant because each and every player is different. Unless there’s a good bit more to the story (i.e., George’s behavior) behind the scenes, George’s transgression is immaturity. Something I’d expect to improve as he, ahem, matures.
Neither you nor I can say definitively whether or not we’d have been able to resign George. Saying we’d never have been able to is a very large assumption.
That glut of draft picks next year was already a glut. George has shown tremendous talent, and that’s not always easy to replace.
Look what he did last year, through tantrums on and off the field. The NFL history is full of high talent guys who never realized their talent because they lacked the mental discipline and maturity to realize that talent.
And come on man, a me first guy like Pickens is going to extend with a run first offensive team who is not going to pay him 20+ mil a year? Once the steelers traded for Metcalf, it was as clear as day they were not going to pay George #1 receiver money. can you honestly have any doubt he would t stay on a run happy team without they money?
You’re basing your entire argument on assumptions. Mostly assuming the worst of Pickens.
Hey. I hope you’re proven right, but I definitely have serious doubts about it. Trading out young proven talent for future draft capital is a risky proposition.
There is an old phrase that is 100% true, “Those who don’t learn from history are doomed to repeat it”. The History of the NFL shows us that high talent guys with maturity and discipline issues rarely work out to realize their full potential (I will grant you you have guys like Randy Moss who did. I would actually argue even Moss did not realize his full potential but he is still a hall of famer). But for every Randy Moss , there are dozens who don’t in the history of the NFL. Do you really see Pickens not wanting 20 million a year ? Do you really see the steelers being willing to pay that much for him?
The truth is that we don’t know what went on behind the scenes. They could have made no effort to resign him or they could have offered him a couple year extension and his agent rejected it. We will probably never know but given the history of the NFL, I think this is the best move and the safest move.
I will think about 26 in 26. Today this team just got worse for this season.
Yes.
I think Pickens has shown his character. Late for games, not blocking, not finishing routes, getting into unnecessary fights leading to penalties, etc
Spot on
You’re not wrong but the Steelers have to actually do something this year. They can’t go into camp without a good #2 like they did last year.
This is bittersweet. Recency bias has us Steelers fans overly sensitive to when WR’s act out and not wanting to deal with the nonsense of poor behavior (AB, DJ, now Pickens). In all reality (IMO), the Steelers are now down a substantial weapon and although they are getting draft capital, we are now back to a state of asking “What are we gonna do now?”
Hopefully they go out and sign Amari Cooper or Keenan Allen to help fill the void this leaves. That will at least show they recognize the remaining WR’s, other than DK, are not up to the level of some other WR rooms.
Yes, again.
Possibly means Rodgers let Steelers know he’s not coming. Obviously not a win now move. Probably a late 2026 3rd, maybe a fair deal, but not exactly a good deal.
I would have rather seen what Rudolph (or Rodgers) could have done Pickens and Metcalf. Might be the smarter long term move, but then you could argue truly tanking would be a smarter long term move. I guess they’re all in for 2026.
Pickens is essentially a one year rental for any team that he is not the #1 receiver for because he is going to want 25+ mil to sign with anyone.
Agreed on that it would have been nice to see an offense w/ 2 outside threats. Too bad for Steelers that the GP pick didn’t work out optimally for all concerned.
Bummer.
a true Pittsburgh Steelers fan, since the 70’s I’m very happy that the Steelers traded George Pickens to the Cowboys Jerry Jones like players like George Pickens that causes problems on and off the field
Tomlin couldn’t keep this guy on the rails. The Cowboys have no prayer.
I predict a massive Drama In Dallas.
Loved GP as he was a talented freak… but dealing him has all the signs of addition by subtraction
I see this as addition by subtraction. It will be interesting to see how they use their draft capital next year to move up or not move up in the first round.
I saw this coming from a mile away, TBH. It all started with the postseason interview. And then it was the monster contract for DK.
Am I thrilled? Ehh…. On the field presence, I guess. But having two alphas with Rodgers potentially there, too? Sweet lord it would have been Chernobyl level toxicity.