Cowboys news: George Pickens trade the big story in Dallas

The latest news surrounding the Dallas Cowboys.

Cowboys trade for Steelers WR George Pickens – Todd Archer, ESPN

Dallas acquires a WR2 in a trade with Pittsburgh.

The Dallas Cowboys’ search for a No. 2 wide receiver opposite Pro Bowler CeeDee Lamb has landed them George Pickens.

The Cowboys and Pittsburgh Steelers agreed to a trade Wednesday that will send Pickens to Dallas for a 2026 third-round pick. The Cowboys will also send a 2027 fifth-round pick to the Steelers and get back a 2027 sixth-round pick.

Three weeks ago, Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones hinted the club was working on ”substantive trades” involving players that could be completed before or after the NFL draft.

Had Tetairoa McMillan been available when the Cowboys picked No. 12 in the first round, the wide receiver would have been Dallas’ first-round pick, sources said, but he went No. 8 to the Carolina Panthers. The Cowboys did not pick a wide receiver in the remaining six rounds, despite the need.

Pickens, a second-round pick of the Steelers in 2022, is entering the final year of his rookie contract. Sources told ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler that the Cowboys do not plan to extend Pickens’ contract and will let him play out the final year.

The trade comes as Pickens’ role as the Steelers’ top wide receiver appeared to be supplanted after Pittsburgh traded for DK Metcalf in March. The Steelers are also awaiting an answer from quarterback Aaron Rodgers about whether he will play in 2025.

The Cowboys will have their starting quarterback, Dak Prescott, back after he missed the final nine games last season with a hamstring avulsion that required surgery. With Lamb and Pickens, the Cowboys have their best wide receiver duo since Lamb was paired with Amari Cooper in 2020-21.

George Pickens trade could unlock Cowboys’ offense – Matt Harmon, Yahoosports

Harmon takes a detailed look at what Pickens could mean for the Cowboys offense.

It’s essential to understand the risk they’re taking on here when you’re analyzing this trade and look beyond his season-end stats and don’t obsess over how he’s played with terrible quarterbacks in miserable offenses. And you need to do it even if you like the trade, which I do.

The Cowboys didn’t just have a glaring need for someone with “WR” next to their name; their specific deficiencies required someone with George Pickens’ exact skill set.

Dallas has done an excellent job of weaponizing CeeDee Lamb by moving him around the formation. Lamb leads all wide receivers with 43 yards per game out of the slot over the last two seasons. He’s both a big-play threat and a first-down machine as an interior receiver. Lamb is good enough to win from any alignment, but his connection with Dak Prescott and value to the offense is maximized when lined up off the line or inside.

What the Cowboys have missed during this period is a true X receiver to line up outside of Lamb and threaten defenses down the field and in man coverage. Pickens is a carved from stone, classic X receiver. He’s both a premier ball-winner and, at his best, is dangerous against man coverage. Even while suffering through his own lapses and playing with poor quarterbacks, he’s fourth among all wide receivers in yards per route vs. man coverage over the last two seasons combined. His 3.16 figure trails only Nico Collins, Lamb and A.J. Brown. Let’s not get carried away, he doesn’t have the complete skill set of those elite players, but in the specific vertical X-receiver portion of the gig, he’s excellent when he’s engaged.

The Pickens trade could be the missing ingredient this Cowboys’ passing game needed, and he could ball out in a contract year for a team that wants to get its offense rolling under new head coach Brian Schottenheimer. We could be looking at the best season of his career now that he’s tethered to, by far, the best passer of his NFL career.

Pickens could also fall back into the same old bad habits and the Cowboys could find themselves regretting sending away a Day 2 draft pick for a one-year wide receiver rental who never quiet got with the program. There is variance with this move, but I don’t fault the Cowboys one bit for leaning into it.

Mailbag: What Pickens brings to the offense? – Tommy Yarrish & Mickey Spagnola, DallasCowboys.com

This acquisition could create plenty of mismatches for Lamb and Pickens.

I was surprised to see the news this morning for George Pickens. I think it’s a major move the Cowboys need. But what does he bring to this offense? – Brad Schmidt / Pampa, TX

Nick: I think he brings another playmaker to be scared of. That’s what Pickens adds to this offense immediately. He’s a guy that can get down the field. He led the NFL in average per catch two years ago, going over 18 yards with each reception. So if teams want to take CeeDee out of the game, they’ll have to deal with Pickens in a 1-on-1 situation. If teams want to try and play it straight up, then both of the guys should be able to win.

That’s what we’ve seen with the Eagles, who have both A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith. You can’t just double-team both and if they try, we see what it does for the running game and even the tight end. So having another weapon who can stretch the field and make plays is vital for this offense. At least that is what he brings to the table on the field. Obviously, there have been some stories on his attitude and what he might bring to the locker room, but we’ve seen it for many years how a fresh start can help all players elevate their game. Let’s see if that happens with Pickens. If so, the Cowboys are getting a great addition to this offense and team.

Tommy: At the very least, Pickens gives the Cowboys a more experienced and more reliable second option than what they had on their roster before the trade was complete. And an exciting one at that, as Pickens is known for his acrobatic, difficult catches down the field that can completely change a drive or a game.

If the Cowboys are able to get 2023-like production from Pickens, then you’re looking at one of the better one-two wide receiver duos in the league with Pickens and CeeDee Lamb. Pickens has always been the first option for the Steelers in the past, and now comes into a little bit of a different role in Dallas, so it’ll be interesting to see how he handles that. All that said, this is absolutely an upgrade to the Cowboys’ offense.

Star running back targeted in another Dallas Cowboys trade rumor – Randy Gurzi, Sports Illustrated

Are the Cowboys done with trades or not?

In need of a No. 2 wide receiver, the Dallas Cowboys pulled off a blockbuster trade Wednesday morning. In exchange for a third and fifth-round pick, they landed Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens and a sixth-rounder.

Pickens is known for being demonstrative on the field, but his talent and production can’t be denied. His arrival gives them a fierce duo at receiver with CeeDee Lamb leading the way.

While this move was impressive, there’s also a chance it might not be their last. Dallas has added multiple running backs this offseason, but 105.3 The Fan’s Shan and RJ say they could look to make a splash there as well, saying they were told “not to shut the door” on Breece Hall.

A second-round pick in 2022, Hall has spent the past three seasons with the New York Jets. He’s racked up 2,333 yards on the ground and 1,292 yards through the air with 22 total touchdowns.

Despite his performance, Hall has been rumored to be available with the Jets switching coaching staffs this offseason.

Cowboys cut wide receiver immediately after George Pickens trade – Matthew Wadleigh, SportingNews.com

Dallas needed to make room on the roster to bring Pickens on board.

The Dallas Cowboys made a major move on Wednesday by acquiring George Pickens in a trade with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The Cowboys receive Pickens and a 2027 sixth-round pick as the Steelers get back a 2026 third-round draft pick and a 2027 fifth-round draft pick.

The Pickens trade talks were a big topic of conversation for the past few months, and it finally got done as Dak Prescott adds another weapon alongside CeeDee Lamb.

Shortly after the move, the Cowboys cut one wide receiver to make room for Pickens.

Cowboys reporter Calvin Watkins revealed that Seth Williams has been released.

“To make room for George Pickens on the 90-man roster, Seth Williams was released today. The Cowboys have 91 on the roster because of their international player exemption.”

Williams played college football at Auburn and was a sixth-round choice by the Denver Broncos in the 2021 NFL Draft. He played just two games in 2021, catching one pass for 34 yards.

He then signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars and was on their practice squad for two seasons before joining the Cowboys in 2024. But, with Pickens coming to town, a move had to be made, and Williams is now a free agent.