Pickens to be traded to Cowboys?

[ETL]

All these fans on social media that have been begging the Steelers to "tank" and are now complaining because they traded away a player they were never going to sign. I think GP was worth a second, but you were never going to get that unless maybe they held onto him until the trade deadline and that opens up a whole can or worms. Of course, we will likely have to use a 2nd or 3rd round pick on a WR in 2026, but we would have had too anyways, even if we would not have traded GP. The Chiefs traded their best receiver (non-TE) after winning a Superbowl, so I don't think this is all that crazy.

My only issue is don't you think we would have gotten more for GP during the draft? Maybe not.

I also agree it weakens are Wr room for this year but by how much will fall on somebody to step up and be a #2 receiver.

no. We would have gotten less before or during the draft. It is reported the cowboys was only offering a 4th before the draft which is what I thought his price would be

[El Kabong]

Just for reference:

Which is a giant circle because that is where the picked Pickens.

What if Pickens is a head case who never will put it together? What choice would the team have then? In that case it's no different than if Pickens was a bust. It sucks, but busts happen.

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My only issue is don't you think we would have gotten more for GP during the draft?

Takes two to tango. Was there a trading partner?

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The Steelers aren't tanking. And Tomlin will still get them 9 wins.

[oneforthetoe]

What if Pickens is a head case who never will put it together? What choice would the team have then? In that case it's no different than if Pickens was a bust. It sucks, but busts happen.

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Takes two to tango. Was there a trading partner?

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The Steelers aren't tanking. And Tomlin will still get them 9 wins.

At least 9 wins. And I know the Steelers will never tank, which is fine with me because I think the evidence is that it does not work as often as fans seem to think it does. I was just trying to highlight what I think is the hypocrisy of many fans.

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no. We would have gotten less before or during the draft. It is reported the cowboys was only offering a 4th before the draft which is what I thought his price would be

Makes sense.

[ETL]

At least 9 wins. And I know the Steelers will never tank, which is fine with me because I think the evidence is that it does not work as often as fans seem to think it does. I was just trying to highlight what I think is the hypocrisy of many fans.

Agreed. No team should ever tank. Herm Edwards: “YOU PLAY TO WIN THE GAME!”

[Born2Steel]

Apparently, the Cowboys have no plans to re-sign Pickens after this year. They are just going to try to use him during his contract year, when guys tend to have those 'breakout' seasons. Then let him hit FA.

[oneforthetoe]

Apparently, the Cowboys have no plans to re-sign Pickens after this year. They are just going to try to use him during his contract year, when guys tend to have those 'breakout' seasons. Then let him hit FA.

All in for second place in their division. I guess I can't blame "Jerha" for trying

[Voice of Reason]

They are almost certainly going to have to trade up for a QB. So that is their first and second round pick plus whatever they have to steal from the 2027 stockpile to get that move done. Now you have to try and bundle some of the remaining stuff to move around and get your new QB a WR.

Gee, it sure would have been nice if they had given Kenny one more year with a decent OC and he had worked out so they wouldn't have to use all these draft picks to get a new QB and could have instead used them to fill a lot of other holes on the team.

I know you guys are saying "why is he still talking about Kenny again, that's ancient news", but the repercussions of that fateful move will be screwing us up this year and for several years to come.

[Born2Steel]

Pickens and Lamb will be a pretty good combo if both stay football minded and team oriented. That's a fact. The big BUT in the room is I don't think they can do that for 17 games. Either one of them.

[ETL]

Those memes where your wife looks like an overweight slob when she is married to you but as soon as she gets divorced she is suddenly all into losing weight and looking good.

that reminds me of Pickens during his contract year with the Steelers and how he will be in his contract year with the Cowboys. Same person, same situation, same consequences but in his mind it’s a completely different world.

Whatever

[Mojouw]

Gee, it sure would have been nice if they had given Kenny one more year with a decent OC and he had worked out so they wouldn't have to use all these draft picks to get a new QB and could have instead used them to fill a lot of other holes on the team.

I know you guys are saying "why is he still talking about Kenny again, that's ancient news", but the repercussions of that fateful move will be screwing us up this year and for several years to come.

I'd argue that it would have been better if they didn't draft a QB with a poor resume, sub-par athletic traits, and little scouting basis for projecting substantial NFL success. I will never be convinced that the Rooney's loyalty to Colbert and Colbert's long stated goal of finding the next franchise QB as he left town caused the organization to over-draft a back-up caliber QB.

Honestly, from what I can see, Howard and Pickett are similar QBs. Kinda underscores the point that KP was super over-drafted.

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What if Pickens is a head case who never will put it together? What choice would the team have then? In that case it's no different than if Pickens was a bust. It sucks, but busts happen.

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Takes two to tango. Was there a trading partner?

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The Steelers aren't tanking. And Tomlin will still get them 9 wins.

That's totally fair. I will just never be a fan of trading away jaw-droppingly talented players. I want my team to be holding as many lotto tickets as possible.

I was and still am grumpy that they let Fields get out of town. Same thing with Pickens. Neither guy may ever put it together and become a long term high level player....but I sure would have liked the Steelers to be the ones that they were playing for if they did.

[Dwinsgames]

Apparently, the Cowboys have no plans to re-sign Pickens after this year. They are just going to try to use him during his contract year, when guys tend to have those 'breakout' seasons. Then let him hit FA.

and they get their 3rd round pick back in the form of a compensatory selection so they rent him for a season for the swap of a 5th round pick for a steelers 6th and somehow some still think this was a good trade by the Steelers ....they got taken to the cleaners

[Mojouw]

Apparently, the Cowboys have no plans to re-sign Pickens after this year. They are just going to try to use him during his contract year, when guys tend to have those 'breakout' seasons. Then let him hit FA.

That seems like a problematic approach...

Interesting, or not, but Micah Parsons and George Pickens have the same agent. That could be a headache for the Jones to navigate.

ADDED: It would also be the height of hilarity if after a good season in Dallas, Pickens and the Cowboys part ways....and GP signs a big $$$ deal to return to Pittsburgh.

[EzraTank]

I fully expect the Steelers to sign Rodgers & Lazard now. Both to two year deals.

[El-Gonzo Jackson]

if you are not making a run it makes sense otherwise its a dumb move ...

you exhaust 18 months of time trying to find a WR to pair with him , you finally do that so you have a really good duo and then you ship him away after paying the other guy 30 million to have the duo ... the only thing you get in return for all that is a 3rd round pick that you would have gotten as a comp pick and the swap of a 6th for a 5th .... but lots of production lost .... how is that a good move ??????? the only difference in this years WR corp than last years is this years is 28 million dollars more expensive

Here is link to a story that cites reasons why they might not have gotten a 3rd round comp pick and why they may have done the trade. https://steelersnow.com/why-the-stee...eorge-pickens/

Steelers dont have a QB and were not going to get to the AFCCG even if they kept Pickens and sign 41 year old QB. It looks like the plan is to load up on picks for the 2026 draft and if trading away a guy that has become a distraction in the locker room is part of it, thats fine by me.

[BlackAndGold]

So from the things I'm reading and gathering, and some of my own thoughts.


Tomlin was done with GP, he was a big (the?) reason why he was traded and that says something.

Pickens value was in the dump, and it was not going to get any better. They tried to move him at the draft and no team was offering a day 2 pick for him. Trade deadline would result in anything better.

A 3rd round comp pick was not a guarantee. No team may have given him a huge deal, and requiring a comp picks always results in the team not spending in FA.



I was really looking forward to DK and GP pairing. Could have been an exciting duo with their elite traits, also potential drama lol.

Colbert was awful at drafting his few years, and is a reason why the team is where they are. Pickens being moved makes the 22' class even more of a dud. Leal likely will be cut at the cut deadline.

Khan is now replacing those players with his vision. The days of drafting divas may be coming to an end. Last 3 drafts, the focus has been on drafting captains, and champions.

Khan better have another move up his sleeve. I know they like and have high hopes for Roman Wilson but not trading for a legit #2 for another season would be malpractice. Packers have a deep wr room, I'd call about Doubs. Players like Lazard? no, Gabe Davis? no.

[ETL]

and they get their 3rd round pick back in the form of a compensatory selection so they rent him for a season for the swap of a 5th round pick for a steelers 6th and somehow some still think this was a good trade by the Steelers ....they got taken to the cleaners

the Steelers could have gotten a comp 3rd round pick if they kept Pickens … in 2027. The trade to the cowboys guarantees that the pick is a 3rd rounder for 2026 when the Steelers want to move up in round 1 for that QB. Also eliminates any risk of

1. Injury to Pickens in 2025 and poor performance,
2. Poor performance by Pickens even without injury
3. He goes all nutso like diontae and claypool and diminishes his value.

All those uncertainties are eliminated with the Cowboys trade and again it’s a 3rd rounder in 2026 when we need it the most.

[vader29]

[El Kabong]

Gee, it sure would have been nice if they had given Kenny one more year with a decent OC and he had worked out so they wouldn't have to use all these draft picks to get a new QB and could have instead used them to fill a lot of other holes on the team.

I know you guys are saying "why is he still talking about Kenny again, that's ancient news", but the repercussions of that fateful move will be screwing us up this year and for several years to come.

New OC or no, the Steelers felt confident that from what they'd seen of him in games and in practice that Kenny wasn't going to be the guy. Sirianni didn't see fit to keep him in Philly either. The Browns traded for Kenny but also signed Flacco and drafted two Qb's, not exactly a ringing endorsement for Kenny. Nothing that's happened with Kenny so far has proven the Steelers wrong about him.

[ETL]

From a redditor on the Steelers forum. Basically there probably is a ton of shit that happened that pushed Tomlin and the rest over the edge.



“Do you all remember at end of year when Tomlin said GP needs to grow up...


Do you all remember the eye black game?


Do yinz all remember the Game that GP dressed and was NOT ON THE FIELD for any snaps?


Do yinz remember when GP was "hurt" and missed those final games?


I remember... ALL OF IT...


Remember the stories out there that Pittsburgh was deliberately holding GP stats back so they wouldn't have to pay him


What i heard from ppl was that Tomlin literally benched GP last year & then all of a sudden GP had a hamstring injury.


He basically quit on his team & he knew he was the main focus on offense & said basically unless think u can win without me ...


Basically GP had Tomlin & Organization over a barrel and GP was acting a fool w late & no show to meetings. Basically daring Tomlin to do something...


You look at the game where he dressed & wasn't involved in the game plan & then the hamstring injury missing gms..


Basically Tomlin &.Khan tried to get a day 2 pick of draft day but no1 bit...


Then Dal finally came up to a rd 3 in 2026, khan said throw in a swap for 5th for a 6th.


Dal countered 3rd 26.. swap in 27.. and deal was done...


Basically Tomlin & Khan were forced by GP to go get DK Metcalf ...


You got Tomlin telling a grown man to grow up on natl tv.. Basically go put your big boy pants on was point of no return & relationship was done...


That's why pitts traded the 2 for DK & paid him 130mil 5yrs..


It was a big you know what to GP...


You think you gonna hold us hostage ...


OK ��...


And Basically the 5 gm losing streak... alot of that had to do w the fallout on the entire squad.


There's so much GP did that was not reported and that literally affected the team!


And its a miracle they got a 3 & a 5...


Wait till Ceedee Lamb gets 20 targets & GP gets 5 targets...


Or wait til he gets his bag of $... he may be a saint in a contract year.. once he gets paid his true colors will show...


Hes not a team guy... he's an I guy...


GL w that.in Dal w Ceedee &.GP...


It's now Americas Problem...”


I agree that it was good for us to get a 3rd for him

[Hawkman]

What people aren’t really thinking about is the fact that we currently don’t have a QB under contract that could make GP and Metcalf happy. If you think GP had an attitude this past season, imagine if this season Metcalf got twice as many targets as GP. With the contract we’ve given Metcalf, I would expect that to be the case. I think it was a good call, but like others, I’m sorry we didn’t get more for GP. Maybe the front office didn’t think that was a possibility.

[Voice of Reason]

Honestly, from what I can see, Howard and Pickett are similar QBs. Kinda underscores the point that KP was super over-drafted.

Maybe you're right, but given the QB mess we currently find ourselves in, it sure would have been nice if we had given Kenny one more year so we could have found out for sure.

[Voice of Reason]

Nothing that's happened with Kenny so far has proven the Steelers wrong about him.

True, but also nothing has proven them right.

Hopefully this year Kenny gets the test that the Steelers should have given him last year.

[Mojouw]

From a redditor on the Steelers forum. Basically there probably is a ton of shit that happened that pushed Tomlin and the rest over the edge.



“Do you all remember at end of year when Tomlin said GP needs to grow up...


Do you all remember the eye black game?


Do yinz all remember the Game that GP dressed and was NOT ON THE FIELD for any snaps?


Do yinz remember when GP was "hurt" and missed those final games?


I remember... ALL OF IT...


Remember the stories out there that Pittsburgh was deliberately holding GP stats back so they wouldn't have to pay him


What i heard from ppl was that Tomlin literally benched GP last year & then all of a sudden GP had a hamstring injury.


He basically quit on his team & he knew he was the main focus on offense & said basically unless think u can win without me ...


Basically GP had Tomlin & Organization over a barrel and GP was acting a fool w late & no show to meetings. Basically daring Tomlin to do something...


You look at the game where he dressed & wasn't involved in the game plan & then the hamstring injury missing gms..


Basically Tomlin &.Khan tried to get a day 2 pick of draft day but no1 bit...


Then Dal finally came up to a rd 3 in 2026, khan said throw in a swap for 5th for a 6th.


Dal countered 3rd 26.. swap in 27.. and deal was done...


Basically Tomlin & Khan were forced by GP to go get DK Metcalf ...


You got Tomlin telling a grown man to grow up on natl tv.. Basically go put your big boy pants on was point of no return & relationship was done...


That's why pitts traded the 2 for DK & paid him 130mil 5yrs..


It was a big you know what to GP...


You think you gonna hold us hostage ...


OK ��...


And Basically the 5 gm losing streak... alot of that had to do w the fallout on the entire squad.


There's so much GP did that was not reported and that literally affected the team!


And its a miracle they got a 3 & a 5...


Wait till Ceedee Lamb gets 20 targets & GP gets 5 targets...


Or wait til he gets his bag of $... he may be a saint in a contract year.. once he gets paid his true colors will show...


Hes not a team guy... he's an I guy...


GL w that.in Dal w Ceedee &.GP...


It's now Americas Problem...”


I agree that it was good for us to get a 3rd for him

The Reddit poster implies they have multiple sources that provide special insider knowledge. I’m highly skeptical that is true.

Verified and publicly available information contradicts much of the posted claims.

Personally, I think all the “drama” stuff is overblown. But I’m often wrong.

[Born2Steel]

Whatever the reason(s) for trading Pickens, it was done for the betterment of the team. Kahn got the best deal he could for GP. He didn't just take the first offer and leave a ton of meat of that bone. I'm sure Jerry walked away feeling like he 'won' the trade. But we won't know until we see how the draft picks work out.

Personally, I loved the GP pick. I really wanted him in that draft and was super excited when we drafted him. I'm still disappointed it didn't work out because I think GP is an awesome talent. I hope his career works out for him, but he's a Cowboy for now, so moving on.

On a side note, the WR from Jacksonville failed his physical so he won't be replacing GP.

[lipps83]

Maybe the Steelers can bring GP back next year as a free agent after a year of maturing in Dallas.

[El-Gonzo Jackson]

Maybe you're right, but given the QB mess we currently find ourselves in, it sure would have been nice if we had given Kenny one more year so we could have found out for sure.

Man, can you please give it up. He is gone with 2 other teams and if he showed anything in Philly they would have kept him on their roster. There was no "giving him one more year" when he asked to be traded once Wilson signed.

If the Eagles thought he had promise, they would not have traded him for DTR and a 5th rounder. We will see if he beats out Dillon Gabriel and/or Shedur Sanders.

[lipps83]

If the Eagles thought he had promise, they would not have traded him for DTR and a 5th rounder. We will see if he beats out Dillon Gabriel and/or Shedur Sanders.

I don't think the Browns would have drafted 2 QB's if they felt KP had an upside.

[Dwinsgames]

I don't think the Browns would have drafted 2 QB's if they felt KP had an upside.

this , but hell they should have just asked me could have saved themselves the pick they sent to philly

[El-Gonzo Jackson]

I don't think the Browns would have drafted 2 QB's if they felt KP had an upside.

I think the Browns had so many picks that they were going to add another and when Sanders fell that far, somebody thought it was worth a shot on a 5th.

Back on topic, it seems like a lot of other teams didnt want to deal with Pickens potential issues. I know a lot here are gonna just crap on Roman Wilson, but I watched him ball out at Michigan for a couple of years. At the 2024 Senior Bowl Roman Wilson and Quinon Mitchell seemed to be the best WR and CB in practices and went 1 vs 1 several times. Mitchell showed he is an elite CB and I think Wilson will show that he is a great route runner and receiver...he just isnt big to be a top guy on the outside.

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this , but hell they should have just asked me could have saved themselves the pick they sent to philly

We all know that you were not a KP fan and thought he was hyped on 1 season, kind of like Akili Smith back in the day.

My belief is that he had upside and similar game to Matt Hasselbeck and the Steelers must have done their homework. Both of us really liked Sam Howell and he is with his 3rd team as well, but I dont know if Washington or Seattle fans are still thinking he didnt get a fair shot. Either way, I dont bother much with guys not on the Steelers roster.

[ETL]

Dulac said something about Pickens quite simply: if the production is more than the aggravation then you keep him. If the aggravation is more than the production then you get rid of him.

So I guess we are debating this openly now. Some here feel that his talent and production was worth all the off field aggravation and some are saying that he wasn’t.

if he performs well for the cowboys - there will be one side that will say “I told you so” and if he becomes a nut job with them - the other side gets to crow about it.

I would submit that how he performs with the Cowboys is moot. He had his chance here and did not produce. Also he did not earn the trust of Tomlin and Khan to merit a long term contract. He can do whatever with Dallas, turn a new leaf … whatever. All I know is that he was not productive here nor will be in the future with us.

We found out what we needed to know about him and are moving on.