Why trading George Pickens to Dallas could backfire spectacularly

In a move that's sent shockwaves through the NFL, the Pittsburgh Steelers have traded their star wide receiver George Pickens to the Dallas Cowboys, a deal that’s as puzzling as it is polarizing. Just when the Steelers appeared to be reloading on offense and eyeing a serious playoff push, they’ve voluntarily hit the reset button at wide receiver. But what’s really behind this trade and could it derail Pittsburgh’s bigger ambitions?


George Pickens traded to Dallas with major consequences for Steelers

From @GMFB: There have been rumors of George Pickens being traded for weeks, and potential #Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers has been throwing with DK Metcalf, not Pickens. Hard to imagine it was a surprise to Rodgers. pic.twitter.com/yeIM8ARtdJ

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) May 7, 2025

The trade terms are clear that Dallas gets George Pickens and a 2027 sixth-rounder, while Pittsburgh receives a 2026 third-round pick and a 2027 fifth-rounder. On paper, it looks like a fair exchange. But dig deeper, and the cracks start to show.


Pickens, though undeniably a firecracker off the field, has also been Pittsburgh’s most electric playmaker. Trading him now, as he enters the final year of his rookie deal, feels less like a roster strategy and more like damage control. His sideline outbursts and friction with the coaching staff may have played a part, but was it enough to justify giving up on one of the league’s most physically gifted young receivers?


Even more baffling is the timing. The Steelers had just made headlines for chasing DK Metcalf, with fans hoping to pair him with Pickens for a lethal receiving corps. Now, not only is that dream shattered, but the roster is again glaringly thin at wideout—an all-too-familiar problem that haunted them last season.


Pickens trade puts Aaron Rodgers ’ potential arrival in doubt



Then there’s the Aaron Rodgers angle. The Steelers' rumored interest in the veteran quarterback continues to simmer, but how does this move affect that pursuit? Many expected Pittsburgh to surround a potential Rodgers deal with weapons. Instead, they’ve traded away one.


Reports from NFL insiders suggest Rodgers might not be blindsided. He's been working out with Metcalf, not Pickens, and there’s been a steady stream of trade rumors swirling around the receiver. Still, perception matters and a dwindling wide receiver room doesn't exactly scream "win-now" to a future Hall of Famer.


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Insiders maintain the trade won't derail Rodgers talks, but that's optimistic at best. In reality, the Steelers now face pressure to find a replacement fast. Whether that means chasing aging stars like Keenan Allen or exploring a trade for Allen Lazard remains to be seen. If this gamble doesn’t pay off quickly, the Steelers won’t just lose Pickens, they may lose their shot at Rodgers too.