Steelers-Cowboys trade grades: How George Pickens deal was viewed by experts
Context:
The Pittsburgh Steelers executed a significant trade with the Dallas Cowboys, sending wide receiver George Pickens to Dallas in exchange for a 2026 third-round pick and a 2027 fifth-round selection, while also receiving a 2027 sixth-round pick. This deal provides the Cowboys with a needed second wide receiver to complement CeeDee Lamb, though it carries risks due to Pickens' impending free agency and past on-field conduct issues. Experts have varied opinions on the trade, with grades ranging from A to B for the Cowboys and C+ to B- for the Steelers, reflecting concerns about the Steelers' timing and strategic positioning at the wide receiver spot. Some analysts view Pickens as a significant addition to the Cowboys' offense, enhancing Dak Prescott's passing options and potentially forming an elite wide receiver duo. Meanwhile, the Steelers' decision to trade Pickens highlights the challenge of balancing team dynamics and replacing a player with both potential and past performance issues.
Dive Deeper:
The Steelers traded George Pickens to the Cowboys, receiving a 2026 third-round and a 2027 fifth-round pick, and included a 2027 sixth-round pick in the deal. This move is seen as a major acquisition for the Cowboys, aiming to bolster their receiving lineup alongside CeeDee Lamb.
Pickens has been recognized for his ability to make big plays and his physical presence on the field, but his tenure with the Steelers was marked by inconsistency and behavioral issues, including on-field penalties and altercations, which were factors in the Steelers' decision to trade him.
Opinions on the trade vary among experts, with some praising the Cowboys for making a strategic move to strengthen their offense, while others express skepticism about Pickens' potential impact due to his past conduct and the risk of him leaving in free agency after 2025.
The Steelers, having previously acquired DK Metcalf, are left with a void in their wide receiver lineup, which they hope to fill with players like Calvin Austin III and Roman Wilson, though concerns remain about their depth and timing in losing a player of Pickens' caliber.
The trade evaluations reflect broader strategic considerations, with the Cowboys aiming to create a formidable receiving duo, and the Steelers managing team harmony and future planning, all while navigating the complexities of player development and team dynamics.
Both teams face potential challenges: the Cowboys must address Pickens' contract situation and behavioral concerns, while the Steelers need to ensure they have adequate replacement strategies for a player who showed WR1 potential despite not reaching it consistently.
Overall, the trade is viewed as a calculated risk for the Cowboys, with the potential for high rewards if Pickens integrates well and performs at his best, while the Steelers are seen as making a tough but necessary personnel management decision.
The Pittsburgh Steelers and Dallas Cowboys pulled off a blockbuster trade early on Wednesday, with the Steelers sending George Pickens to Dallas in a trade that includes draft picks.
Per reports, the Steelers are getting a 2026 third-round pick and a 2027 fifth-round selection for the volatile wide receiver and a 2027 sixth-round pick.
This is obviously a huge get for the Cowboys, a team that needed another wideout opposite CeeDee Lamb, although the trade does come with some risk for the Cowboys.
Meanwhile, the Steelers are back to square one at wide receiver after they appeared to have solved their problem at the position after the DK Metcalf trade.
In the wake of this huge deal, experts are weighing in on the trade and giving it grades. Here's where those experts stand on the Pickens trade.
George Pickens trade grades
Vinnie Iyer, Sporting NewsCowboys grade: A | Steelers grade: A
Iyer on Cowboys: "The Cowboys look like this plan was in the works for a while, given they eschewed any thought of taking a wide receiver in the first round of the 2025 NFL draft. They didn't need to give up too much, as the Steelers were most willing to move on from Pickens. Dallas has a clear alpha target in Lamb, who dominates targets and win a lot of matchups in the slot or outside. He remains Dak Prescott's unquestioned go-to guy all over the field. But Pickens adds the missing field-stretching element and youth, only 24. The 2022 second-round draft pick had some flashes of big-play ability through the Steelers' QB carousel, but was inconsistent and not always on the same page. Now he gets the established long-time big-armed starter Prescott, who gets a much-needed boost in head coach Brian Schottenheimer's offense. The pressure will be off Pickens to be the top cover assignment of cornerbacks, leading to more favorable downfield shots."
Iyer on Steelers: "The Steelers may have thought for a second to make it work with Metcalf and Pickens. But they have similar size-vertical speed traits, even down to some inconsistent hands and separation on intermediate-to-deep routes. Metcalf needs his version of a busy slot to best complement him, and this opens the door for a youngster, Roman Wilson or Calvin Austin III, to have a key role for the Steelers' latest transitional quarterback situation. Pickens never reached Antonio Brown levels on or off the field, but you can bet his not fitting with the reasonably demanding ways of coach Mike Tomlin was leaving the team uneasy. Now Metcalf can be the man, and maybe it will be soon with recent workout buddy Aaron Rodgers as his new starting QB soon."
Cowboys grade: B | Steelers grade: C+
Camenker on Cowboys: "There's little doubt Pickens will be an upgrade for Dallas' receiving corps. The 6-3, 200-pound receiver served as a downfield playmaker for the Steelers because of his ability to consistently win 50-50 balls. His size and physicality pair well with that of Lamb, so the duo could be an imposing pair for opposing defenses to contain... While Pickens' skill set makes him a nice fit in Dallas, there remains risk in acquiring him. He is set to be a free agent following the 2025 NFL season, so if the Cowboys can't sign him to an extension, he may end up being an expensive rental. Additionally, Pickens caused the Steelers some headaches with his on-field antics. Notably, he was involved in a scuffle with Cleveland Browns cornerback Greg Newsome II on the final play of a game last season; the following week, he was called for multiple unsportsmanlike conduct penalties in a win over the Cincinnati Bengals."
Camenker on Steelers: "The Steelers trading Pickens isn't shocking. There was no guarantee that Pickens, who is entering the last year of his rookie deal in 2025, would sign an extension to remain in Pittsburgh. The Steelers also acquired Metcalf in the offseason, so they still have a strong downfield threat as their top receiving weapon. The issue with the Pickens trade is more about timing for the Steelers. Trading him after the 2025 NFL Draft prevented the team from acquiring extra draft capital it could use to acquire a replacement for Pickens. That leaves the team without a true No. 2 receiver behind Metcalf, where Calvin Austin, Robert Woods and Roman Wilson figure to compete for playing time, among others."
Cowboys grade: A- | Steelers grade: B-
Dajani on Cowboys: "At 6-foot-3, 200 pounds, Pickens is a legitimate perimeter threat that should have Dak Prescott giddy. He will open up things for Lamb, and vice versa. On paper, the Cowboys just created one of the best wide receiver duos in the league. After last year's incredibly disappointing offseason and the forgettable 2024 campaign that followed, these are the kinds of moves that Cowboys fans want to see from Jerry Jones. As for the cons, Pickens has struggled to hold his emotions in check and cost his team yards with penalties, plus he has just one more year remaining on his rookie deal. The Cowboys would be losers in this trade if the 2025 season were to be a failure and Pickens left in free agency. However, this is the kind of swing I like to see from a team that wants to win football games."
Dajani on Steelers: "The Steelers did trade for and extend DK Metcalf this offseason, so parting ways with Pickens is not the biggest surprise in the world. But if you were to go back in time and tell yourself that the Steelers would be trading Pickens away for a third-round pick, you would be pretty disappointed. This was a wide receiver that had legitimate WR1 potential, and he led the league in yards per reception (18.1) in 2023 while recording his first 1,000-yard receiving campaign with 1,140 yards and five touchdowns on 63 receptions. However, he never reached his ceiling in Pittsburgh -- for a number of reasons. One, Pickens suffered through inconsistent quarterback play, which included Kenny Pickett, Mitch Trubisky, Mason Rudolph, Russell Wilson and Justin Fields, but Pickens also hurt himself. There's zero doubt Pickens struggled to control his emotions on the field. He was fined $20,462 for two unsportsmanlike conduct penalties in a close game against the Cincinnati Bengals last season, leading head coach Mike Tomlin to say his wide receiver has to "grow up in a hurry." Pickens also scuffled with Cleveland Browns cornerback Greg Newsome II at the end of an entertaining Week 12 affair, and was held back by security and at least one official. There were shouting matches with fans and coaches, and he even pulled down Jourdan Lewis by his face mask when the Steelers faced the Cowboys last year."
Cowboys grade: B+ | Steelers grade: B-
Buhler: "Right now, I am going to declare Dallas the slight winners in this trade. The Cowboys landed the better or more proven player. For better or worse, they have an identity as an offense for this season going forward. Rather than play Martyball like his late father would have done, Brian Schottenheimer is going to make Prescott throw the ball a ton to Lamb and Pickens. I could get behind that a bit more.
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