George Pickens Trade Rumors
George Pickens Trade Rumors: Could the Steelers’ Wideout Land with the Dallas Cowboys? The NFL offseason is no stranger to blockbuster trade rumors, and one of the hottest names circulating in recent weeks is Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens. With the Dallas Cowboys reportedly in the market for a dynamic playmaker to complement star CeeDee Lamb, Pickens’ name has been frequently linked to America’s Team. As the 2025 NFL season approaches, the buzz around a potential Pickens-to-Dallas trade has fans and analysts alike speculating about the feasibility, implications, and drama surrounding such a move. The Origin of the Rumors Trade rumors involving George Pickens began to gain traction ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft, fueled by the Steelers’ acquisition of veteran wide receiver DK Metcalf from the Seattle Seahawks in a high-profile trade. Pittsburgh sent a second-round pick to Seattle and subsequently signed Metcalf to a five-year, $150 million extension, signaling their commitment to him as the centerpiece of their receiving corps. This move sparked speculation that Pickens, a 2022 second-round pick entering the final year of his rookie contract, could be deemed expendable. The Cowboys, coming off a disappointing 7-10 season in 2024 that snapped a streak of three consecutive playoff appearances, have been vocal about their need to bolster their receiving corps. Despite drafting CeeDee Lamb, one of the league’s premier wideouts, Dallas failed to add significant depth during the 2025 draft, with undrafted free agent Treshon Holden being their only notable addition. This has left the Cowboys searching for a high-caliber No. 2 receiver to pair with Lamb and support quarterback Dak Prescott under new offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer. Reports from multiple outlets, including ESPN and The Athletic, confirmed that Dallas inquired about Pickens during the draft, with Cowboys owner Jerry Jones reportedly stirring the pot during a pre-draft press conference by hinting at potential roster moves. The rumors gained further momentum when Lamb posted a cryptic message on social media, which some interpreted as a nod to Pickens potentially joining the Cowboys. Why Pickens Makes Sense for Dallas At 24 years old, George Pickens is a tantalizing talent with the potential to transform Dallas’ offense. In three seasons with the Steelers, he has recorded 174 receptions for 2,841 yards and 12 touchdowns across 48 regular-season games, showcasing his ability to stretch the field and make highlight-reel catches. His 2023 campaign, where he posted 1,140 yards, demonstrated his capability as a No. 1 receiver, though his role in Pittsburgh has been complicated by inconsistent quarterback play and the arrival of Metcalf. For the Cowboys, Pickens would represent an immediate upgrade over their current options. Playing alongside Lamb, who commands significant defensive attention, Pickens could exploit single coverage and softer matchups, potentially elevating his production in Dallas’ pass-heavy offense led by Prescott, a three-time Pro Bowler. Additionally, Pickens’ $6.75 million rookie contract for 2025 makes him an affordable short-term addition, though his impending free agency and likely demand for a lucrative extension could complicate long-term planning. Bleacher Report’s Alex Kay has been among those advocating for the trade, noting that Dallas is “desperate for an upgrade in the receivers room” and that Pickens could be the key to returning the Cowboys to playoff contention. Kay argues that the Steelers’ financial commitment to Metcalf and Pickens’ reported frustration with his reduced role make Dallas a “logical spot” for the young receiver. The Case Against the Trade Despite the appeal, there are significant red flags surrounding a potential Pickens trade. The most prominent concern is his off-field behavior and locker room presence. Pickens has been fined 10 times by the NFL in three seasons for various infractions, including taunting, an obscene gesture, and writing “OPEN (EXPLETIVE) ALWAYS” on his eye black during a 2024 game against the Cowboys. His emotional outbursts and reported friction with the Steelers’ coaching staff, including an incident where he arrived late to a Christmas Day game, have raised questions about his maturity. Adding a player with Pickens’ reputation could be risky for a Cowboys team navigating a high-pressure environment. Heavy.com’s analysis urged Dallas to avoid the trade, labeling Pickens a “diva” whose behavioral issues outweigh his on-field contributions. The Cowboys’ front office, known for its reluctance to invest heavily in players with character concerns, may hesitate to part with significant draft capital for a player who could disrupt team chemistry. Steelers On the Steelers’ side, parting with Pickens is not a straightforward decision. While Metcalf’s arrival has shifted the pecking order, Pittsburgh values Pickens’ talent and sees him as a complement to Metcalf, particularly with the potential addition of a high-profile quarterback like Aaron Rodgers in 2025. Steelers GM Omar Khan and head coach Mike Tomlin have publicly expressed their desire to keep Pickens, with Khan stating, “We’re glad we have George and DK here. I think they’re gonna be exciting for everyone to watch.” Moreover, the Steelers are unlikely to trade Pickens without substantial compensation. Reports suggest Pittsburgh would demand at least a second-round pick, similar to what they received for Chase Claypool in 2022, and possibly more given Pickens’ higher upside. For Dallas, surrendering a high draft pick for a player with one year left on his deal and a history of disciplinary issues may not align with their long-term strategy. The Latest Developments As of May 7, 2025, the Pickens trade rumors have taken a dramatic turn. ESPN’s Adam Schefter and NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that the Steelers and Cowboys are working to finalize a trade that would send Pickens to Dallas in exchange for a third-round pick and a late-round pick swap, with the deal expected to be official soon. This development suggests that Pittsburgh’s stance may have softened, possibly due to ongoing tensions with Pickens or a strategic shift toward building draft capital for a quarterback-heavy 2026 NFL Draft. However, conflicting reports have muddied the waters. Steelers insider Gerry Dulac previously downplayed the rumors, stating there were “no negotiations” with Dallas and that trade talks were overstated.
Saturday Playoff Preview
Saturday Playoff Preview The 6-game NFL Wild Card Weekend kicks off Saturday with a pair of AFC matchups. FullTime Fantasy‘s Saturday Playoff Preview breaks down the slate from a fantasy football and sports betting perspective. And just because the fantasy regular season has ended doesn’t mean the fun is over. FFWC Playoff Fantasy Football is a great way to extend the fantasy fun and win amazing prizes! Los Angeles Chargers (11-6) at Houston Texans (10-7) Time: 4:00 Eastern Line: Chargers -3 Total: 42.5 Money Line: Los Angeles -156, Houston +136 Chargers Offense Jim Harbaugh coached the Chargers to an impressive one-year turnaround. Harbaugh inherited a team that went 5-12 and instilled a new culture, resulting in a postseason appearance in Year One. However, Harbaugh’s main influence was on the defense, which allowed the fewest points in the league. LA’s offense ranked 20th overall, including 19th in passing and 17th in rushing. The Chargers did rank 11th in scoring, but points will be at a premium against a Houston defense that ranked 14th in points allowed. Although Houston’s pass defense ranked 6th overall, the Texans allowed an AFC-worst 31 touchdown passes to quarterbacks. That makes Justin Herbert a solid start. Our RDA* projections have Herbert in the top half of Week 19 fantasy signal-callers. Additionally, Herbert ran for 306 yards and two scores this season, which is another area Houston struggled against. Houston surrendered the fifth-fewest fantasy points to running backs, which makes J.K. Dobbins a lesser option in this slate. Dobbins also won’t catch many passes. That makes him game-script-dependent. However, in a game where the Chargers are favored, Dobbins has a decent shot at seeing 15-plus touches and getting into the end zone. There isn’t a ton of upside behind Dobbins. Gus Edwards has been limited and Kimani Vidal and Hassan Haskins have split RB3 duties. Additionally, the recent signing of Ezekiel Elliott complicates the complementary roles. Avoid. Thumbs up for WR Ladd McConkey. The rookie wideout was fantasy’s WR10 in the last three weeks, reeling in 19-of-24 targets for 276 yards and a score. Houston allowed the ninth-most fantasy points to enemy receivers, making McConkey a top-10 play in our Week 19 RDA* projections. Quentin Johnston offers some boom potential against a secondary that has been decimated by injuries and is vulnerable to big plays. Josh Palmer is OUT, opening up more snaps for D.J. Chark. At tight end, the Chargers will use Wil Dissly and Stone Smartt. However, Dissly out-snapped Smartt 43-14 last week. Texans Offense While the Chargers took vast strides in 2024, the Houston Texans regressed. Facing a first-place schedule will do that, but DeMeco Ryan’s squad simply wasn’t as good on offense. After ranking seventh in passing in 2023, Houston dipped to 21st. There is no denying that C.J. Stroud‘s play dropped off. His metrics and efficiency declined across the board. Meanwhile, he struggled to make the same throws he made as a rookie and he plummeted to 34th in pressured completion rate (53.1%). The Chargers can be challenged through the air. However, Stroud has only thrown 2-plus TDs in a game three times since Week 7. RB Joe Mixon has also cooled off. Mixon hasn’t scored more than 10.6 PPR points in any of his last four games. Meanwhile, the Chargers allowed the third-fewest fantasy points to the position in 2024, including a league-low four rushing scores. Although the volume should be there, this is not a great week to pay up for Mixon’s salary in DFS. Houston’s offense has also been plagued by injuries. Nico Collins is the last man standing at wideout and will undoubtedly be the focal point in this game. Collins hasn’t topped 100 yards since Week 13 but has scored three touchdowns. Our RDA* projections have Collins in for 5.4 grabs, 73 yards, and a 50/50 shot at another score. After Collins, Houston will trot out the uninspiring trio of Robert Woods, John Metchie, and Xavier Hutchinson. However, none of these players are anything more than DFS dart throws in a poor matchup. At tight end, Dalton Schultz is the best bet to see the second-most targets. However, the Chargers allowed a league-low two scores to opposing TEs this season, which severely caps his upside. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7) at Baltimore Ravens (12-5) Time: 8:00 Eastern Line: Baltimore -10 Total: 43.5 Money Line: Pittsburgh +400, Baltimore -550 Steelers Offense The Steelers are 4-1 against the spread in their last five matchups with Baltimore. Additionally, the UNDER has hit in 8-of-11 in this AFC North rivalry. However, that paints an ugly picture for Pittsburgh’s offense- a unit that scored all of two touchdowns against Baltimore this season. QB Russell Wilson averaged 211 passing yards, one TD, and one INT in two games versus Baltimore. That’s precisely where our Week 19 RDA* projections have Wilson, making him an unappealing fantasy option. While the Ravens have struggled against the pass, Baltimore’s league-best offense and excellent run defense make the Ravens a poor matchup for running backs. Pittsburgh will use both of their backs, with Najee Harris leading the way. In those two prior matchups, Harris accumulated an innocuous 105 rushing yards with four receptions. Jaylen Warren was better in those games and offers more appeal as a double-digit underdog. Warren reeled in all nine of his targets against the Ravens, racking up 71 receiving yards and averaging over four yards per carry. Paying up for George Pickens is a hard pill to swallow after last week’s embarrassment. However, this is a good rebound spot for Pickens, who caught 8-of-12 targets for 89 yards back in Week 11 against the Ravens. Pickens has topped 75 yards in three of his five career matchups versus Baltimore, who also allowed the seventh-most fantasy points to wide receiver this season. As double-digit dogs, Pickens will see a favorable game script. Calvin Austin and Van Jefferson are the next best bets but offer low floors. However, TE Pat Freiermuth gets a positive matchup. Baltimore surrendered 12.9
