It’s been six months since George Pickens turned Allegiant Stadium into his personal playground on Monday Night Football, but the echoes of that trade-deadline splash still reverberate through the NFL. What started as a head-scratching offseason deal between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Dallas Cowboys has blossomed into a cornerstone of Dallas’ unexpected resurgence, with Pickens emerging as the explosive complement Dak Prescott desperately needed opposite CeeDee Lamb.
The trade, finalized on May 7, 2025—just days after the NFL Draft—sent shockwaves through the league. Pittsburgh, fresh off acquiring DK Metcalf from the Seattle Seahawks in a blockbuster of their own, decided it had seen enough of Pickens’ mercurial ways. Dallas, meanwhile, pounced to fill a glaring void at wide receiver after passing on the position entirely in the draft. Six months later, with Pickens thriving (61 catches, 953 yards, 8 TDs through 11 games), the deal looks like vintage Jerry Jones wizardry: low-risk, high-reward, and perfectly timed.
Here’s the full rundown on the trade that changed the trajectory of two franchises.
The Trade Breakdown
The Cowboys and Steelers agreed to the following terms, as first reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter and confirmed by both teams:
| Team | Receives |
|---|---|
| Dallas Cowboys | – WR George Pickens – 2027 Pittsburgh sixth-round pick |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | – 2026 Dallas third-round pick – 2027 Dallas fifth-round pick |
- Trade Value Assessment: On the surface, Dallas surrendered picks roughly equivalent to a mid-third-rounder (the 2026 third) plus a sweetener (the 2027 fifth), while Pittsburgh flipped Pickens for assets that could yield starters in a talent-rich draft class. ESPN’s trade value chart pegged the net exchange at about 28 points in Dallas’ favor—similar to the 2022 A.J. Brown deal but with far less cost. The inclusion of the 2027 sixth from Pittsburgh was a minor sweetener, essentially making it a straight pick swap with Dallas netting the proven talent.
- Why Pittsburgh Pulled the Trigger: The Steelers had grown weary of Pickens’ off-field antics, which dated back to his 2022 rookie year. Highlights (or lowlights) included unsportsmanlike conduct penalties against the Bengals in 2024, a profane eye-black message (“Open F Always”) during a 2023 Cowboys game, and a mid-2023 Instagram “free me” post that scrubbed all Steelers content from his profile. Coach Mike Tomlin publicly called him out for having “a target on his back,” and reports of lackluster blocking efforts didn’t help. With Metcalf locked in on a five-year, $150 million extension as their new WR1, Pittsburgh saw an opportunity to cash in before Pickens hit free agency in 2026. GM Omar Khan had floated extension talks in February but ultimately opted for draft capital over drama.
- Dallas’ Motivation: Coming off a disappointing 7-10 campaign in 2024, the Cowboys ranked 11th in passing yards but lacked a consistent deep threat beyond Lamb. Jerry Jones had teased “substantive trades” pre-draft, and after using all nine picks on other positions (including OT Tyler Guyton in Round 1), he struck post-draft to avoid inflating costs. This wasn’t their first WR gamble—they’d shipped a 2025 fourth-rounder to Carolina for Jonathan Mingo in November 2024, but Mingo managed just five catches for 46 yards in eight games before fading. Pickens, with his 15.3 yards-per-catch average in 2024 (59 receptions, 900 yards, 3 TDs), promised the boom Dallas craved.
Contract and Cap Implications
Pickens is in the final year of his four-year, $6.8 million rookie deal (signed after the Steelers took him No. 52 overall in 2022 out of Georgia). For 2025:
- Base Salary: $1.4 million
- Cap Hit: Approximately $3.4 million (some reports cite $4.18 million including bonuses)
- No Signing Bonus for Dallas: Pittsburgh had already paid the $522,669 workout bonus, so the Cowboys inherit a clean slate—no dead money if they cut or trade him post-2025.
- Free Agency Outlook: Eligible for a restricted free-agent tender in 2026 or unrestricted if not extended. Early projections value him at four years, $100 million, but his post-trade behavior (zero penalties, elite production) could push that higher. Jones has hinted at extension talks, but insiders say Dallas might play out the year for a compensatory pick if no deal materializes.
Early Grades and Long-Term Impact
- Cowboys Grade: A – It’s been a home run. Pickens has three 100-yard games since arriving, including that 189-yard, two-TD explosion against the Raiders. The offense is averaging 32.5 points over the last four weeks, and Prescott’s completion percentage is up 4% with his new safety valve. If he stays clean, this duo with Lamb could carry Dallas to a deep playoff run—and beyond.
- Steelers Grade: C- – Pittsburgh got future picks but missed a chance to flip Pickens pre-draft for 2025 assets. Metcalf has stabilized the room (28 catches, 412 yards so far), but the WR corps lacks Pickens’ YAC upside. Critics argue they could’ve netted a third-rounder and a Day 3 pick if they’d dealt earlier.
Six months in, the Pickens trade underscores the NFL’s high-stakes gamble: Talent over temperament. For Dallas, it’s paying dividends—literally and figuratively. As Jones put it post-trade, “We got our missing piece.” With the Cowboys at 6-4-1 and eyeing the NFC East crown, that piece is starting to look like the spark for something special.
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