Grant White

Steelers Trade George Pickens to Cowboys: A Gamble?

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On Wednesday morning, the <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/nfl/depth-chart/pittsburgh-steelers-depth-chart">Pittsburgh Steelers</a> traded <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/nfl/players/george-pickens/2152">George Pickens</a> to the <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/nfl/depth-chart/dallas-cowboys-depth-chart">Dallas Cowboys</a> for a third-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. In doing so, they have diminished their chances of competing in the short term.
The Steelers have a good track record of moving on from wide receivers at the right time. Still, the timing of the Pickens trade is a little curious. Steelers GM Omar Khan could have made this move ahead of the draft a few weeks ago and had a young player to help shoulder the offensive burden in 2025.
Alternatively, Pittsburgh could have kept Pickens on the opposite side of <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/nfl/players/dk-metcalf/1397">DK Metcalf</a>. The Steelers' offense would have benefited from having two imposing wide receivers stretching defenses on multiple levels.
Instead, Khan moved Pickens without immediate benefit, compromising the Steelers' position heading into the 2025 NFL season.
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LOSER - Pittsburgh Steelers

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Now, the Cowboys reap the rewards of having two elite pass-catchers patrolling opposite sides of the field, raising their stock as contenders in the NFC East. 
Over the last couple of years, <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/nfl/players/ceedee-lamb/2473">CeeDee Lamb</a> has been one of the lone bright spots on an otherwise dismal Cowboys' offense. That one-dimensional approach has made it easy to contain the Cowboys' attack and placed the entire offensive burden on Lamb's shoulders. 
With Pickens suiting up for Dallas next season, the Cowboys finally have a 1-2 punch on offense. They can leverage Pickens and Lamb across multiple levels to create space for either receiver, with <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/nfl/players/jake-ferguson/2485">Jake Ferguson</a> adding another outlet and, hopefully, a reinvigorated rushing attack. The Cowboys may have finally built a championship-contending offense.

WINNER - Dallas Cowboys

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When the Steelers acquired <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/nfl/players/dk-metcalf/1397">DK Metcalf</a>, he was headed to a franchise re-building its offense. Two months into the 2025 NFL season, all Pittsburgh has done is subtract.  
With the NFL Draft in the rearview mirror and all of the most prominent free agents signed, the Steelers still don't have a competent starting quarterback. Further, they invested most of their draft capital on defense, leaving them perilously short on offense. 
Metcalf now finds himself in the same position as CeeDee Lamb did last year. Metcalf's exclusive responsibility is now to keep the chains moving, which, as we've learned, isn't a recipe for success.

LOSER - DK Metcalf

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At the 2024 NFL Draft, the Pittsburgh Steelers used the 84th selection to land <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/nfl/players/roman-wilson/60082">Roman Wilson</a>. But after an ankle injury in camp and then a hamstring ailment upon his return in Week 6, Wilson played just five offensive snaps for the Steelers last season. Now, it is his opportunity to step up and become the receiver Pittsburgh expects him to be. 
Wilson had a wildly productive senior season with the Michigan Wolverines. He helped lead Michigan to the National Championship while hauling in 48 receptions for 789 yards and 12 touchdowns, leading the team in all three categories.
This is Wilson's time to shine. An aging <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/nfl/players/robert-woods/1902">Robert Woods</a> won't elevate the Steelers' passing attack, but a fully healthy Roman Wilson could emerge as a legitimate slot option to alleviate the pressure on Metcalf.

WINNER - Roman Wilson

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If trading away one of their top offensive contributors was the plan to woo <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/nfl/players/aaron-rodgers/1536">Aaron Rodgers</a>, the Steelers will be walking the beach alone for eternity. 
As Rodgers contemplates his future in the NFL, he is surely weighing his chances of success. Those odds took a serious hit with the departure of Pickens. The future Hall of Fame quarterback can now decide whether he can lead a short-handed offense in one of the toughest divisions in football. The outlook isn't good. 
Generally, when trying to convince a quarterback to join your team, you insulate him with elite playmakers. Instead, the Steelers hung onto Pickens too long and stripped their offense of one of their top pass-catching options. Consequently, they may have made Rodgers's decision for him and forced one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time to ride off into the sunset.
Stay ahead of the game and elevate your sports betting experience with <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/">SportsGrid</a>.

LOSER - Aaron Rodgers

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On Wednesday, the Pittsburgh Steelers traded wide receiver George Pickens to the Dallas Cowboys. Who are the winners and losers from this offseason trade?

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