Cowboys acquire WR George Pickens from Steelers for draft picks

The Dallas Cowboys acquired wide receiver George Pickens from the Pittsburgh Steelers in a trade Wednesday in exchange for draft-pick compensation.

Going to Dallas along with Pickens is a sixth-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, while the Steelers will receive a third-round selection in 2026 and a fifth-round pick in 2027.

The Cowboys had been seeking another top wideout to pair with four-time Pro Bowl selection CeeDee Lamb, who had 66 more targets last season than the next closest member of the team (tight end Jake Ferguson). Lamb led the club in catches (101) and receiving yards (1,194) to go along with six touchdowns.

This move comes six months after Dallas acquired wide receiver Jonathan Mingo and a seventh-round pick of the 2025 NFL Draft from the Carolina Panthers for a fourth-round selection in the same draft.

The Steelers, in turn, acquired wide receiver DK Metcalf from the Seattle Seahawks on March 9. The two-time Pro Bowl selection then signed a four-year, $132 million deal with Pittsburgh.

The Steelers still are awaiting an answer from free-agent quarterback Aaron Rodgers as to whether he will sign with Pittsburgh.

Pickens, 24, had 59 catches for 900 yards with three touchdowns in 14 games last season. He has one season remaining on his rookie contract and is slated to become a free agent next March.

Pickens recently appeared to be distancing himself from the Steelers, notably unfollowing the team on social media.

Pittsburgh head coach Mike Tomlin told reporters in January of Pickens that "there's certainly, obviously more room for growth there."

Pickens has 174 receptions for 2,841 yards with 12 scores in 48 career games since being selected by the Steelers in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft.

In a corresponding move on Wednesday, the Cowboys waived wide receiver Seth Williams, 25, to create a roster spot for Pickens. Dallas signed Williams to a future contract for the 2025 season on Jan. 7 and activated him on March 23. He was added to the practice squad last October.

The Denver Broncos selected Williams in the sixth round of the 2021 NFL Draft out of Auburn. He caught his lone target in two games that season for 34 yards. He was released in August 2022 and was on the Jacksonville Jaguars' practice squad in 2023.

--Field Level Media