The Steelers’ idea of putting mercurial wide receiver George Pickens on the trading block during the 2025 NFL Draft had opposing war rooms erupting with laughter.
That’s according to a new report published by The Athletic on Wednesday, the same day Pittsburgh struck a deal with the Cowboys to move on from the polarizing 2022 second-round pick after failing to find a trade partner last month during the draft.
“Word leaked during the draft that Pickens was available if anyone wanted him. Some teams polled by The Athletic at the time laughed at the idea of inviting Pickens into their locker room for any price, let alone a second-day draft pick,” the outlet reported.
Pittsburgh, without a second-round pick in the draft after shipping it to Seattle in March as part of a trade for DK Metcalf, didn’t draw much attention with Pickens, as The Athletic noted, “There wasn’t a lot of interest in talking with the Steelers about a trade.”
Before the Cowboys forked over a 2026 third-round pick and a 2027 fifth-rounder for quarterback Dak Prescott’s new toy, speculation had been mounting that Pickens’ time in Pittsburgh was up.
In December, Pickens showed up late to a Christmas Day clash against the Chiefs at home and got into it with fans at a January contest weeks later.
When Pickens drew two unsportsmanlike conduct penalties against the rival Bengals in December, coach Mike Tomlin implored the 24-year-old to “grow up.”
“It’s an emotional game. These divisional games are big. He’s got a target on his back because he’s George. He understands that. But he’s gotta grow up, and he’s gotta grow up in a hurry,” Tomlin said.
Eagle-eyed fans then noticed Pickens had stopped following the Steelers on social media in the wake of a pre-draft report that alleged the team had been shopping him.
Pickens, entering the final year of his rookie contract, is ready to show Cowboys brᴀss “he’s a top guy this year,” according to team insider Clarence Hill Jr., and he’ll wait on a potential extension.
In 14 games last season, Pickens had 59 receptions for 900 yards and three touchdowns. He posted career-high numbers the season before with 63 receptions, 1,140 receiving yards and five scores in 17 games.
Pittsburgh, which handed Dallas a 2027 sixth-rounder as part of the Pickens deal, now has another offseason project to tackle: figuring out its starting quarterback.
Aaron Rodgers has been heavily linked to the team but has yet to decide his NFL future as he navigates personal matters.
With quarterbacks Justin Fields and Russell Wilson leaving in free agency, the team re-signed veteran backup Mason Rudolph and drafted Ohio State’s Will Howard in the sixth round of this year’s draft.
