SAINT PAUL, MN – The Dallas Cowboys and Pittsburgh Steelers executed a trade Wednesday that sends wide receiver George Pickens to Dallas, bolstering the Cowboys’ receiving corps. In exchange, the Steelers will receive a 2026 third-round draft pick and a 2027 fifth-round draft pick, while also sending a 2027 sixth-round pick to Dallas.

The move addresses a clear need for the Cowboys, who did not select a wide receiver in the recent NFL draft despite acknowledging the desire for a No. 2 option alongside CeeDee Lamb. Sources indicated that Dallas had significant interest in wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan in the first round but were unable to secure him.

Pickens, a second-round selection by the Steelers in 2022, is entering the final year of his rookie contract. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported that the Cowboys do not intend to extend Pickens’ contract at this time.

The trade comes as Pickens’ status as the Steelers’ primary receiver appeared to be in flux following Pittsburgh’s acquisition of DK Metcalf in March. The Steelers are also awaiting a decision from quarterback Aaron Rodgers regarding his playing future in 2025.

Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones had previously hinted at potential “substantive trades” involving players. The addition of Pickens provides quarterback Dak Prescott, who is returning from a season-ending hamstring injury, with a significant weapon. The Cowboys view the Lamb-Pickens duo as their strongest receiving tandem since the pairing of Lamb and Amari Cooper.

Pickens, 24, has been a productive player in his three seasons with the Steelers, recording at least 50 receptions, 800 receiving yards, and three touchdowns each year. In 2024, he tallied 59 catches for 900 yards and three scores, despite missing three games due to a hamstring strain.

However, Pickens has also faced scrutiny for on-field conduct. He was flagged for two unsportsmanlike conduct penalties in Week 13 against the Cincinnati Bengals, and was involved in an altercation the week prior. Steelers coach Mike Tomlin publicly commented on Pickens’ need for maturity.

“He’s just got to grow up, man,” Tomlin said in December. “He’s got a target on his back because he’s George; he understands that. But he’s got to grow up in a hurry.”

Following the trade, Calvin Austin III becomes the Steelers’ leading returning receiver. The team also has Roman Wilson, Scotty Miller, Ben Skowronek, and free-agent signing Robert Woods on their roster at the wide receiver position.

The Cowboys previously acquired Jonathan Mingo via trade in November. Their current receiving depth includes Lamb and Jalen Tolbert, who led the team in receiving touchdowns last season.

The trade provides the Cowboys with immediate receiving help while giving the Steelers draft capital as they navigate their evolving roster. The long-term implications for both teams will unfold as the 2025 season progresses.