Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
The Steelers Move on From George Pickens by Trading Mercurial Receiver to Cowboys
gvw_ap_news
By Associated Press
Published 10 hours ago on
May 7, 2025

The Pittsburgh Steelers trade wide receiver George Pickens to the Dallas Cowboys, ending a turbulent three-year tenure. (AP File)

Share

PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Steelers have run out patience with wide receiver George Pickens, agreeing Wednesday on a trade that sends the talented but mercurial 24-year-old to the Dallas Cowboys.

The Steelers will get a third-round pick in the 2026 draft and a fifth-rounder in 2027. The Cowboys get a sixth-round choice in two years.

The trade was first reported by ESPN.

Pickens’ NFL Journey

Pickens is about to enter the final year of the rookie deal he signed in 2022 when the Steelers took the former Georgia star in the second round. The 6-foot-3, 200-pound Pickens has spent his first three seasons in the NFL being equal parts productive and petulant, mixing highlight-reel catches with bouts of immaturity along the way.

Pickens joins a Cowboys offense that could use another downfield threat to pair with star CeeDee Lamb. Dallas’ second-leading pass catcher behind Lamb last year was tight end Jake Ferguson, with Jalen Tolbert’s modest 49 receptions a distant third.

Cowboys Bolster Receiving Corps

Dallas didn’t address the need for a No. 2 receiver in the draft, with first-year coach Brian Schottenheimer saying he liked the youth that was already on the roster. Owner and general manager Jerry Jones made reference before the draft to “substantive” trades the Cowboys were pursuing. This qualifies as one.

The Steelers, particularly head coach Mike Tomlin, frequently backed Pickens as he endured what the team frequently described as a version of growing pains while he adjusted to life in the NFL.

Pickens has been one of the most dynamic receivers in the league when he’s on the field and engaged, which is not always a given. Pickens led the league by averaging 18.1 yards per catch in 2023 and has 174 receptions for 2,841 yards and 12 scores in 48 games.

A History of Volatility

Yet he’s also consistently struggled to keep his emotions in check. Last season alone he twice ended games by getting into dust-ups with opposing defensive backs, first when he grabbed Dallas’ Jourdan Lewis by the facemask and then when he tussled with Cleveland’s Greg Newsome II rather than try to get in position for a last-second Hail Mary.

That doesn’t include a fine for using an expletive on his eye black against the Cowboys, a rule he said he was unaware of at the time. Pickens also drew widespread criticism in 2023 for what could generously be described as inattentive downfield blocking for his teammates.

Considering his volatility, the Steelers didn’t seem interested in signing Pickens to a contract extension and he became expendable when they traded for two-time Pro Bowler DK Metcalf in March, whom they promptly signed to a five-year contract.

AP Pro Football Writer Schuyler Dixon in Dallas contributed to this report.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

Pro-Palestinian Protest Erupts at Columbia University Library, Some Turned Over to Police

DON'T MISS

State Center Trustees Turn Deaf Ear to Backers of Downtown Student Housing

DON'T MISS

Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Douglas Kindle

DON'T MISS

US-Houthi Ceasefire Deal Does Not Include Israel, Says Houthi Spokesperson

DON'T MISS

Iran’s Leader Hopes America Can Save His Faltering Regime

DON'T MISS

Syria Has Had Indirect Talks With Israel to Calm Situation, Syrian Leader Says

DON'T MISS

Kaiser in the Hot Seat as CA Lawmakers Blast Company for Skipping Mental Health Hearing

DON'T MISS

Finding New Uses for Farmland in the Heart of Ag Country Is a Daunting Task

DON'T MISS

Black Smoke Signals No Pope Elected at First Conclave Vote

DON'T MISS

Judge Demands Trump Officials Detail Legal Grounds for Deporting Palestinian Activist

UP NEXT

Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Douglas Kindle

UP NEXT

US-Houthi Ceasefire Deal Does Not Include Israel, Says Houthi Spokesperson

UP NEXT

Iran’s Leader Hopes America Can Save His Faltering Regime

UP NEXT

Syria Has Had Indirect Talks With Israel to Calm Situation, Syrian Leader Says

UP NEXT

Kaiser in the Hot Seat as CA Lawmakers Blast Company for Skipping Mental Health Hearing

UP NEXT

Finding New Uses for Farmland in the Heart of Ag Country Is a Daunting Task

UP NEXT

Black Smoke Signals No Pope Elected at First Conclave Vote

UP NEXT

Judge Demands Trump Officials Detail Legal Grounds for Deporting Palestinian Activist

UP NEXT

Tulare Murder Case Ends With Woman Sentenced to Life

UP NEXT

Housing Component Halted, but Fresno’s Senior Center Is Moving Forward

US-Houthi Ceasefire Deal Does Not Include Israel, Says Houthi Spokesperson

4 hours ago

Iran’s Leader Hopes America Can Save His Faltering Regime

5 hours ago

Syria Has Had Indirect Talks With Israel to Calm Situation, Syrian Leader Says

6 hours ago

Kaiser in the Hot Seat as CA Lawmakers Blast Company for Skipping Mental Health Hearing

6 hours ago

Finding New Uses for Farmland in the Heart of Ag Country Is a Daunting Task

6 hours ago

Black Smoke Signals No Pope Elected at First Conclave Vote

6 hours ago

Judge Demands Trump Officials Detail Legal Grounds for Deporting Palestinian Activist

7 hours ago

Tulare Murder Case Ends With Woman Sentenced to Life

7 hours ago

Housing Component Halted, but Fresno’s Senior Center Is Moving Forward

7 hours ago

Trump’s Budget Would Abolish Funding for English Learners, Adult Ed, Teacher Recruitment

7 hours ago

Pro-Palestinian Protest Erupts at Columbia University Library, Some Turned Over to Police

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Dozens of protesters stood on tables, beat drums and unfurled pro-Palestinian banners in the reading room of Colu...

2 hours ago

A pro-Palestinian protester yells to let students out of the Butler Library on the campus of Columbia University in New York, U.S., May 7, 2025. (REUTERS/Ryan Murphy)
2 hours ago

Pro-Palestinian Protest Erupts at Columbia University Library, Some Turned Over to Police

3 hours ago

State Center Trustees Turn Deaf Ear to Backers of Downtown Student Housing

Douglas Kindle is Valley Crime Stoppers' Most Wanted Person of the Day for May 7, 2025. (Valley Crimes Stoppers)
4 hours ago

Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Douglas Kindle

Smoke rises in the sky following U.S-led airstrikes in Sanaa, Yemen, February 25, 2024. (REUTERS/Adel Al Khader/File Photo)
4 hours ago

US-Houthi Ceasefire Deal Does Not Include Israel, Says Houthi Spokesperson

5 hours ago

Iran’s Leader Hopes America Can Save His Faltering Regime

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa speaks during a joint press conference with French President Emmanuel Macron after a meeting at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, May 7, 2025. (REUTERS/Stephanie Lecocq/Pool)
6 hours ago

Syria Has Had Indirect Talks With Israel to Calm Situation, Syrian Leader Says

6 hours ago

Kaiser in the Hot Seat as CA Lawmakers Blast Company for Skipping Mental Health Hearing

6 hours ago

Finding New Uses for Farmland in the Heart of Ag Country Is a Daunting Task

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend