George Pickens’ Breakout Season Makes Steelers Regret Their Big Trade
So, let’s talk about this George Pickens situation, because the numbers he’s putting up right now with the Dallas Cowboys are downright wild, and when you stack them next to what the Pittsburgh Steelers are getting from their entire wide receiver room… well, it’s pretty clear who won that trade.
The Cowboys brought Pickens in to be their true outside big-play threat opposite CeeDee Lamb, and he’s been exactly that—maybe even better than expected. Going into Week 14, he’s sitting on 73 catches, 1,142 yards, and 8 touchdowns. That’s All-Pro level production, and what’s even more impressive is that 60 of those 73 receptions have gone for first downs. That’s not just explosive playmaking—that’s reliability, consistency, and a guy who’s becoming a complete receiver. At 6'3", 200 pounds, with legit speed and a growing feel for the game, he’s turned into one of the league’s top targets.
And Dak Prescott? He’s built chemistry with Pickens almost instantly. Whenever Lamb has missed time, Pickens has stepped up even more. Both receivers even consider themselves co-No. 1s, which tells you how comfortable and confident this duo has become.
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But meanwhile, the Steelers… yeah, things are rough. They tried to fill Pickens’ spot by trading for DK Metcalf, giving up a second-round pick and signing him to a big extension. On paper, that move should’ve helped. In reality, it hasn’t. Metcalf’s got 45 catches for 605 yards and 5 touchdowns—solid numbers, but nowhere near what Pittsburgh lost. And when you look at the entire Steelers wide receiver corps—Metcalf, Calvin Austin III, Roman Wilson, Ben Skowronek, and Scotty Miller—they’ve combined for fewer yards than Pickens alone. All together, they have 1,114 receiving yards. Pickens by himself has 1,142.
That’s how massive the gap is.
Things have gotten so desperate that the Steelers brought in Adam Thielen, who’s already played for two teams this season and is now catching passes from 42-year-old Aaron Rodgers. That’s not a picture of stability. It’s no wonder Pittsburgh is leaning heavily on tight ends Pat Freiermuth, Jonnu Smith, and Darnell Washington just to move the ball.
And then there’s the off-field part. Reports say the Steelers moved Pickens partly because of concerns about his maturity—calling him “a child” at times, frustrated by penalties, fines, and inconsistent behavior. Even Mike Tomlin publicly told him to “grow up” last season. But despite all that, the Cowboys took a chance, and Pickens has rewarded them with the best football of his career.
So however you slice it, this trade is looking like a home run for Dallas and a misfire for Pittsburgh. Pickens has elevated the Cowboys’ offense, while the Steelers are still trying—unsuccessfully—to replace what he brought to the field.
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