Wednesday morning, the post-NFL draft was shattered by one of the more important industries in the 2025 offseason. The Pittsburgh Steelers agreed to trade with talented but wealthy receiver George Pickens and a 2027 sixth-round draft pick to the Dallas Cowboys for the 2026 third-round and the 2027 fifth-round.

The deal ends Pickens’ three-year career in Pittsburgh, with Georgia’s 2022 second-round draft amassing 174 receptions, 2,841 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2023, including the 1,140 yards season in 2023. The term of Steel City in Steel City was also caused by suspected unsatisfactory speed and steel-like troubles.

Pickens left a blank in Pittsburgh, while he offered new opportunities in Dallas. ESPN NFL reporters Todd Archer, Jeremy Fowler and Brooke Pryor all value the influence of both teams and Pickens:

Why did the Steelers move on from Pickens? Why now?

The Steelers have been exploring the Pickens’ trading partners before the draft, but they were discussed during the draft when they couldn’t get the value they needed. While the Steelers are unable to take advantage of the Pickens trade returns in the near term, by trading immediately, they avoided the offseason that could have been controversial.

Pickens enters the final year of the rookie trade and is eligible for expansion. The Steelers have previously expressed their desire to keep the receiver in Pittsburgh, but expanding his attitude would be risky – and it could be noticeable if both parties don’t see each other on the terms of the contract.

Despite being an explosive and productive player for the Steelers on the court, Pickens has a pattern in his behavior over his three years with the team and has often sparked outrage from the coach for his side job history and expensive celebrations. He was tagged as two non-movement behaviors after a massive capture against the Bengals in Week 13 of last season, and a week ago he was involved in a melee with Cleveland Browns cornerback Greg Newsome II. Then, before the Christmas game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Pickens arrived at the stadium less than 90 minutes before the kickoff, an unusually late time.

"He's just grown up, man," Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said after beating the Bengals. "It's an exciting game, man. These partition games are big. He has a goal on his back because he's George; he knows that. But he has to grow up. He has to rush to grow." -Pryor

How do Pickens fit into the Cowboys offense under coach Brian Schottenheimer?

The Cowboys hope to bring some "juice" to the opposite Ceedee Lambs speed aspect. Pickens ran a 4.47 40 on the NFL combine in 2022, and he led the NFL with 18.1 in 2023.

According to ESPN research, Pickens has ranked third on the vertical route at 1,630 since 2022, trailing only Mount Tyrek of the Dolphin (2,163) and Justin Jefferson of the Vikings (1,668). His 15.3 yards per game last season was sixth among catchers with 50 or more catches. The Cowboys had a catcher at the last time, 50 or more catches per, with an average of more than 15 yards per catch, which was Michael Gallup in 2019 (66 catches, 16.8 yards per capture). - Archer

How did this move affect the Steelers' offense and recruitment of Aaron Rodgers?

At last month’s league meeting, the Steelers’ brass company firmly believed that buying DK Metcalf was more about wanting its own powerful wide receiver tandem (such as Cincinnati’s Ja'marr Chase and Tee Higgins) than a global championship in the future with the team. But in the trading pickens, the Steelers returned to the roster with only one top wide receiver.

Apart from another blockbuster deal, the Steelers' wide receiver depth was thin behind Metcalf, with Calvin Austin III and his 548 yards being the highest return receiver last season. Although similar on paper, it is not necessarily the same as the Steelers when they were pursuing a year ago thriving on 49ers receiver Brandon Aiyuk. Metcalf is a six-year NFL veteran with three 1,000-yard seasons instead of Pickens, and a more consistent commodity. The Steelers also returned to the nervous PAT Freiermuth, with offensive coordinator Arthur Smith's preference for the design scheme, which made the scheme the most.

While Metcalf and Pickens can create explosive and high pass offenses (especially in quarterback’s Rodgers), the Steelers are looking to have a more balanced offense with strong play. Although they separated at free agent Najee Harris, the team selected Iowa's Kaleb Johnson in the third round, returned to Jaylen Warren and signed Kenneth Gainwell. Trade Pickens lowers the explosive game of ceilings, but it may improve the floor by reducing offensive volatility.

Pickens' absence may not also affect the Steelers' recruitment of Rodgers. The team has been in touch with Rodgers throughout the offseason, and they have realized that Rodgers’ personal problems have emerged. Because of this communication, it is unlikely that Rogers will have some understanding of the team’s Pickens plan. Rodgers notoriously keeps his receivers to high standards, especially on their routes, with Pickens’ history not having the right route or completing his route. This could have contradicted the quarterback with one of his highest offensive weapons. -Pryor

With the draft behind us, who can provide a wide range of receivers for the Steelers through trade or free agents?

Although the NFL receiver options helped after the Pickens Trade appeared in SLIM, Steelers still has room to operate. Pittsburgh has a three-round pick in next year's draft after the deal. They can put one of them in a package in another veteran receiver. Did the Bears break up with DJ Moore after drafting Rome Odunze and Luther Burden III in the back-to-back draft? These are the calls Pittsburgh can at least make.

Aiyuk's market could be frustrated by the ACL injury, with Pittsburgh chasing him last offseason. As the reception rooms in Green Bay become crowded, it may be worth it to call the packer about Romeo Dubs. In free agent market, Keenan Allen will be a capable inside-out player with DK Metcalf. Amari Cooper will be friendly to Pittsburgh's new quarterback, presumably Rodgers. - Fowler

Why did the Cowboys wait so long to solve their WR2 attractions? Whose touch may the existence of Pickens affect?

Wait again. Everyone thinks that cowboys are waiting for everything. Pickens hasn't missed anything except the first few weeks of the Cowboys' offseason plan. The Cowboys want to pick Tetairoa McMillan in the first round, and if he isn't ranked No. 8 by the Carolina Panthers, that's his. They don't like paying the big fees for free agency. They held talks with several teams, including two AFC teams about recipients, but this deal with Steelers got together faster.

In the denim receiver, Jalen Tolbert's influence should be the most affected. Last season, he had 49 catches in 610 yards and switched back and forth when Brandin Cooks were out, spinning back and forth between WR2 and WR3 characters, with his team leading by 7 points. But if the Cowboys’ pass game could be at its best under Dak Prescott, the Tolbert figure a year ago would be perfectly acceptable for third place. - Archer

What is the reality of Pickens’ contract? Can he have a long-term future in Dallas?

By giving up a third-round pick, it wouldn't be a year-long rental for Pickens, although Fowler reports that the Cowboys aren't going to expand Pickens' contract and hopes he can play his rookie deal.

The Cowboys have many issues to solve for edge sprints Micah Parsons, tight-fitting Jake Ferguson and cornerback Daron Bland also entered their final year of their respective trades. There is only one franchise tag that can go around, so the cowboys have to be proactive.

When the Cowboys scored their final big results in the receivers, they were able to shut Amari Cooper out for $20 million in the 2018 season. In 2009, they received a five-year, $45 million contract from the Detroit Lions Club to sign Roy Williams.

The Lambs have made $34 million per season and the Cowboys have paid a receiver at the top of the market. How high do they need to maintain? - Archer