Trade grades: Evaluating Cowboys’ big move for Pickens

The Dallas Cowboys finally made a big move to land a high-profile wide receiver Wednesday, acquiring George Pickens from the Pittsburgh Steelers in exchange for a third-round draft selection and a late-round pick swap.

Here’s how both teams made out.

Cowboys

Let’s start with the good part: On paper, Pickens fills a big roster hole. Dallas really needed to add another talented wide receiver option opposite All-Pro wideout CeeDee Lamb after not selecting a WR in this year’s draft. Pickens, just 24, has already established himself as a solid playmaker with standout ability for contested catches. The 2022 second-round pick’s explosiveness could be huge for the Cowboys’ offense if new head coach Brian Schottenheimer can get the most out of him. Pickens led the NFL with 18.1 yards per catch in 2023 and has posted 16.3 yards per reception across his career. He’s also averaging 62 catches, 1,006 yards, and four touchdowns per 17 games.

Yes, Pickens fills a major need. But at what cost? Dallas gave up a 2026 third-round pick (and a 2027 fifth-rounder) to acquire a receiver who may end up being just a one-year rental. If the Cowboys decide to reward Pickens with a long-term extension, good luck with that. There’s a big risk in committing to a receiver as volatile as Pickens, who could become a problematic distraction as the clear No. 2 guy behind Lamb.

Pickens also had six drops last year and notably struggled to create separation, an issue that plagued the Cowboys’ offensive unit in 2024. Granted, Pickens is undoubtedly more talented than any other Dallas pass-catcher not named CeeDee Lamb, but this trade comes with more questions than answers for Jerry Jones.

Grade: C+

Steelers

A strange offseason for the Steelers gets even stranger. Let’s be clear, the value of return for Pickens is anywhere from acceptable to good. There’s nothing wrong with getting a Day 2 draft pick from a desperate team for a volatile but talented player who likely wasn’t in your long-term plans. However, this trade is ultimately more about what Pittsburgh is losing rather than gaining, and what it signals about the franchise’s direction – or misdirection.

The reality is this Steelers team has a considerably worse roster than the one from the day prior. Pittsburgh traded from one of its few – if not only – positions of strength on offense and made it a weakness. The depth chart behind DK Metcalf is pretty daunting now, with names like Calvin Austin, the recently signed Robert Woods, Ben Skowronek, and Roman Wilson, among others. The Steelers find themselves in the same situation that plagued them last year: Having an entire receiving room dependent on one alpha. But the problem was self-created this time.

Considering rumors that Pittsburgh was shopping Pickens during the 2025 NFL Draft, it’s also puzzling that there wasn’t a better contingency plan other than signing the over-the-hill Woods. The Steelers didn’t take a single wide receiver during the recent draft.

The Pickens trade is the latest development in a Pittsburgh offseason that has felt like the front office is steering in two different directions. With the deal done, it seems the Steelers are stockpiling picks for a run at a quarterback in 2026, and the return for Pickens should help in that regard. But buckle up, the road to get there may be a very turbulent and unfamiliar ride for Steelers fans.

Grade: C

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