The full trade terms include George Pickens and a 2027 sixth-round pick being traded for a 2026 third-round pick and a 2027 fifth-round pick.
The 24-year-old wide receiver was Pittsburgh's leading receiver in the past two seasons with 1,140 yards in 2023 and 900 yards in 2024.
The 2022 second-round pick got competition for the WR1 position when the Steelers traded for Seattle Seahawks wide receiver D.K. Metcalf earlier this offseason in exchange for a 2025 second-round pick.
Contract
Two days before the 2025 NFL Draft, Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said the Cowboys would be involved in "two pretty substantive trades before or after the draft".
By acquiring Pickens, Jones will relieve pressure off of WR1 CeeDee Lamb and offer Dak Prescott an elite deep threat who had 12 catches go for 30+ yards in 2024, the highest amount since the stat started getting tracked in 2006.
Pickens enters the final year of his rookie contract and will likely soon start negotiations with the Cowboys, who are yet to agree on a deal with star pass rusher Micah Parsons, who shares his agent, David Mulugheta, with Pickens.
Jones and Mulugheta have clashed since negotiations about Parsons' new deal started earlier this year. Whilst expressing no worries about reaching an agreement with Parsons, Jones dismissed Mughuleta as "not a concern" and said he "doesn't know his name." Parsons jumped to his agent's defence after Jones' comments: "David is the best and I will not be doing any deal without David Mulugheta involved!"
Attitude problems
Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin had criticised Pickens in recent times, most notably in December 2024, after the wide receiver got flagged twice for unsportsmanlike conduct in the 44-38 win against the Cincinnati Bengals.
"He's just got to grow up, man," said Tomlin. "This is an emotional game, man. These divisional games are big. He's got a target on his back because he's George; he understands that. But he's got to grow up. He's got to grow up in a hurry."
Pickens had been the centre of attention for most of his time in Pittsburgh. He notably made headlines in October 2023, after sharing a social media post with the message "Free Me" following a career-low 1-yard outing against the Tennessee Titans.
"He wants to be significant. He wants to be a reason why we are successful," Tomlin said. "Man, y'all don't begrudge that. I want guys that want the football. I want guys who want to be central reasons of why we are successful. So, that's a non-issue, to be quite honest with you."