Cowboys Trade for George Pickens, Sending 2026 Third and 2027 Fifth-Round Picks to Steelers

The Dallas Cowboys have acquired wide receiver George Pickens from the Pittsburgh Steelers in a significant trade, bolstering their offensive lineup. The deal, finalized on May 7, 2025, sees the Cowboys sending a 2026 third-round pick and a 2027 fifth-round pick to Pittsburgh in exchange for Pickens and a 2027 sixth-round pick. Pickens, a 24-year-old, 6-foot-3, 200-pound receiver, joins the Cowboys as a complement to star receiver CeeDee Lamb. In his three NFL seasons, Pickens has caught 174 passes for 2,841 yards and 12 touchdowns, averaging 16.3 yards per catch and delivering 117 first downs in 48 games. His arrival in Dallas is expected to enhance the team's passing game, with Pickens expressing excitement about playing alongside Lamb and quarterback Dak Prescott. The trade marks a strategic move by the Cowboys to improve their receiving corps without using a draft pick on a wide receiver in the 2025 NFL Draft. The trade has been met with mixed reactions, with some viewing it as a risky move due to Pickens' reputation for occasional sideline tantrums and unsportsmanlike conduct penalties during his time with the Steelers. However, his talent and potential to stretch the field are seen as valuable assets for the Cowboys' offense. Pickens, who was drafted 52nd overall by Pittsburgh in the 2022 draft, is entering the final year of his rookie contract with a cap hit of $3.6 million and no fifth-year option. Other key players on the Cowboys' roster include tight end Jake Ferguson, receivers Jalen Tolbert, Jalen Brooks, Jonathan Mingo, and KaVontae Turpin, as well as rookie guard Tyler Booker and new head coach Brian Schottenheimer.