The Dallas Cowboys have finalized a trade to acquire talented wide receiver George Pickens from the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The 24-year-old standout from the Steelers is headed to Dallas in return for future third-round and fifth-round draft selections, while the Cowboys will also acquire a 2027 sixth-round pick, as initially revealed by ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Pickens had been slated alongside the newly joined DK Metcalf on Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin’s lineup. However, following his recent move to unfollow the Steelers on social media, Pickens is now preparing to team up with another star wide receiver, CeeDee Lamb.
This trade on Wednesday aligns with Pickens approaching the last year of his rookie deal, which means Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones faces the challenge of accommodating another contract in addition to the hefty salaries of Lamb and quarterback Dak Prescott.
A national champion at Georgia, the 6-foot-3 Pickens has dazzled fans with a string of highlight-reel receptions, while also facing accusations of immaturity.
After incurring two unsportsmanlike conduct penalties in a 2024 win over Cincinnati, Pickens was publicly scolded by Tomlin, who said the receiver has ‘just got to grow up, man.’
The Cowboys are finalizing a deal to acquire receiver George Pickens from the Steelers
Jerry Jones can now pair CeeDee Lamb with George Pickens on his improving offense
Now the question is whether or not the Cowboys can fit a new Pickens deal with Lamb and Prescott accounting for nearly $400 million in cap space through the 2028 season
Even playing with five different quarterbacks over three seasons, Pickens has still managed 174 receptions for 2,841 yards and a dozen touchdowns on 293 targets. What’s more, he led the NFL by averaging 18.1 yards per catch in 2023.
But with Metcalf inking a five-year, $150 million deal with Pittsburgh after being acquired from Seattle, and the Steelers adding veteran receiver Robert Woods, Pickens’ chances of a massive contract extension appeared to be diminished.
Now the question is whether or not the Cowboys can fit a new Pickens deal with Lamb and Prescott accounting for nearly $400 million in cap space through the 2028 season.
And that doesn’t account for the massive new deal edge rusher Micah Parsons is hoping for in Dallas – something that could be impacted by Pickens’ contract situation.
Interestingly, Parsons shares an agent with Pickens in David Mulugheta, who has been at odds with Jones in Dallas.
Asked about the ongoing contract talks with Parsons’ camp, Jones told reporters in early April he didn’t know Mulugheta’s name, adding that the agent was ‘not a factor’ in negotiations.
Parsons, a four-time Pro Bowler with 52.5 career sacks, caught wind of those comments and stood up for his agent.
Parsons is seen with his agent David Mulugheta before a game against the Browns
‘David is the best and I will not be doing any deal without [him] involved!,’ he wrote on X . ‘Like anyone with good sense I hired experts for a reason. There is no one I trust more when it comes to negotiating contracts than David! There will be no backdoors in this contract negotiation.’
Parsons’ post came in response to longtime Cowboys reporter Clarence Hill Jr, who had relayed Jones’ remarks and called Mulugheta one of the ‘best and most respected agents in the NFL.’
ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky also wrote in the replies: ‘this won’t go well for Jerry lol. Mulugheta is as good as it gets in that business lol.’
The injury-ravaged Cowboys missed the playoffs last season under Mike McCarthy, who has since been replaced by offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer. Since then, the team has hired Klayton Adams and Matt Eberflus as the offensive and defensive coordinators, respectively.
Jones drafted massive Alabama offensive lineman Tyler Booker with the 12th pick of last month’s NFL Draft, before adding some insurance for Parsons in the form of Boston College edge rusher Donovan Ezeiruaku in the second.
Davante Adams has suggested Aaron Rodgers wants ‘someone to roll out the red carpet’
Rodgers and Steelers coach Mike Tomlin have had discussions this offseason, the passer said
As for the Steelers, the team remains in limbo with free-agent quarterback Aaron Rodgers. He’s visited with Pittsburgh coaches and has been linked with the Steelers since his unceremonious departure with the New York Jets.
‘I think Aaron wants someone to roll out the red carpet for him,’ The Athletic’s Mike Silver said on the Scoop City podcast after speaking with Rodgers’ long-time friend and former teammate, LA Rams receiver Davante Adams. ‘That is what he is looking for. I’m not sure if he would consider the Steelers doing that right now. I’m not positive how Aaron perceives that or how the Steelers perceive that.’
Rodgers, meanwhile, previously said there is ‘no deadline’ on him making a decision and that he had been dealing with issues in his personal life.
Former Ohio State Buckeye Will Howard became the third quarterback on the Steelers roster over the weekend, joining Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson.
