The Dallas Cowboys have completed a trade with the Pittsburgh Steelers to acquire wide receiver George Pickens in exchange for draft compensation.
The Cowboys announced this trade on social media on Wednesday morning. The franchise is sending a 2026 3rd-round pick and a 2027 5th-round pick in exchange for Pickens and a 2027 6th-round pick.
Rumors about the two sides negotiating a trade for Pickens have been rampant throughout the offseason, with Dallas needing a secondary wide receiver and Pittsburgh looking to move in a different direction.
This trade fills a significant need for the Cowboys leading into the 2025 season, as the team desperately needs a second wide receiver to complement Ceedee Lamb.
Dallas was previously expected to rely on a combination of Jalen Tolbert and Jonathan Mingo. Pickens now stands out as the team’s clear second option and one of the best second-receiving options in the NFL.
Pickens put together a solid performance during his most recent season with the Steelers, finishing the year with 59 receptions and 900 receiving yards despite missing three games.
Pickens’ play style is also expected to mesh well with the players on the Cowboys roster. His specialty is being contested deep catches, which will allow other players to operate closer to the line of scrimmage and create yards after the catch.
Although Pickens is entering the final year of his rookie contract, there is not currently an expectation that he will agree to a new contract with the Cowboys this offseason.
When asking about Pickens’ contract discussions with the Cowboys, Clarence Hill Jr. of DLLS stated on social media that a source told him that the wide receiver is not “looking to do one,” noting that he “Wants to show he’s a top guy this year.”
Simply put, Pickens will likely only play with the Cowboys for one season before joining a different franchise during the 2026 free-agency period.
Pickens joins a growing list of players the Cowboys have acquired through trades this offseason. Dallas also completed trades for cornerback Kaiir Elam, linebacker Kenneth Murray Jr., and quarterback Joe Milton III.
Dallas has also acquired a variety of players through free agency, with the full list and grades by The Dallas Express for each of these moves being available here.