The Pittsburgh Steelers seem to have run out of endurance with broad receiver George Pickens. The staff have agreed a commerce to ship the proficient however mercurial 24-year-old to Dallas.
In line with ESPN, the deal, which the Cowboys confirmed on Wednesday morning, will ship Pickens and a 2027 sixth-round decide to Dallas. In return, the Steelers will get a 2026 third-round decide and a 2027 fifth-round decide.
Pickens is about to enter the ultimate 12 months of the rookie deal he signed in 2022 when the Steelers took the previous Georgia star within the second spherical. The 6ft 3in, 200lb Pickens has spent his first three seasons within the NFL being equal components productive and petulant, mixing highlight-reel catches with bouts of immaturity alongside the way in which.
The Steelers, significantly head coach Mike Tomlin, steadily backed Pickens as he endured what the staff steadily described as a model of rising pains whereas he adjusted to life within the NFL.
Pickens has been one of the crucial dynamic receivers within the league when he’s on the sector and engaged, which isn’t all the time a given. Pickens led the league by averaging 18.1 yards per catch in 2023 and has 174 receptions for two,841 yards and 12 scores in 48 video games.
However he’s additionally persistently struggled to maintain his feelings in examine. Final season alone he twice ended video games by stepping into dust-ups with opposing defensive backs, first when he grabbed Dallas’ Jourdan Lewis by the facemask after which when he tussled with Cleveland’s Greg Newsome II slightly than attempt to get in place for a last-second Hail Mary.
He was additionally fined for utilizing an expletive on his eye black in opposition to the Cowboys, a rule he mentioned he was unaware of on the time. Pickens additionally drew widespread criticism in 2023 for what might generously be described as inattentive downfield blocking for his teammates.
Contemplating his volatility, the Steelers didn’t appear excited about signing Pickens to a contract extension and he turned expendable once they traded for two-time Professional Bowler DK Metcalf in March, whom they promptly signed to a five-year contract.
Pickens is becoming a member of a Cowboys offense that might use one other downfield menace to pair with star CeeDee Lamb. Dallas’ second-leading move catcher behind Lamb final 12 months was tight finish Jake Ferguson, with Jalen Tolbert’s modest 49 receptions a distant third.
