George Pickens is headed to Dallas. The Pittsburgh Steelers announced Wednesday that they’ve traded their star wide receiver and a 2027 sixth-round pick to the Cowboys. Sparking celebration across Cowboys Nation.
But not everyone is sold on the move. ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith wasted no time throwing cold water on the hype, saying the excitement around the deal will fade fast.
“I’m sure it looks good on paper as it always does… They’re gonna make headlines,” said Smith. “And you’re gonna see Dallas Cowboys fans everywhere (saying), ‘Pickens, with CeeDee Lamb, and Dak [Prescott] is back healthy. You know we’re going to the Super Bowl next year.’ They’re going to go back to teasing us into believing that they’re relevant.”
The trade had been quietly foreshadowed weeks earlier when Pittsburgh acquired DK Metclaf and signed him to a five-year, $150 million deal, signaling a changing of the guard at wide receiver.
How huge is the George Pickens trade for the Steelers and the Cowboys?
For the Steelers, this move feels like a classic case of addition by subtraction. Head coach Mike Tomlin and GM Omar Khan reportedly saw George Pickens as a volatile presence in the locker room, even with his production on the field.
It also lines up with Pittsburgh’s rumored interest in Aaron Rodgers. According to ESPN Steelers reporter Terrelle Pryor, Rodgers expects precision and discipline from his receivers. And that’s an area where Pickens has reportedly fallen short.
“Rodgers is notorious in holding his receivers to high standards, especially in their route running, and Pickens has a history of not running the correct routes or finishing his routes. That could’ve put the quarterback at odds with one of his top offensive weapons,” Pryor said.
In Pickens’ place, NBC’s Mike Florio suggested the Steelers could reunite Aaron Rodgers with former Packers teammate Allen Lazard. “Why Lazard?” Florio said. “Because Rodgers completely trusts him. And for whatever reason, Lazard always plays better with Rodgers than without him.”
Over in Dallas, analyst Seth Walder called the trade a smart move, viewing it as a clear win for the Cowboys.
“Pickens is an excellent fit with Lamb, too,” Walder said. “He’s an outside vertical receiver who will allow Lamb to maintain his heavy dosage of slot alignments in the Cowboys’ offense.”
Time will tell if this move finally puts Dallas over the hump, or just adds to their long list of offseason hype. But let me know in the comments your thoughts on the trade.
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