Grading the trade: Did Dallas overpay for George Pickens?

The Dallas Cowboys are dominating the headlines this morning after a bold trade for Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens. But what price did they pay to receive him? According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Dallas is sending a 2026 third-round draft pick and 2027 fifth-round pick to acquire the 24-year-old receiver in a blockbuster deal that also sees Dallas receive a 2027 sixth-round pick.

Pickens will join a receiving corps led by CeeDee Lamband the two could potentially become one of the league’s most dynamic receiving duos. But did the Cowboys get a steal, or will this choice come back to haunt them?

Grading the Pickens trade

As far as talent, Pickens has undeniable upside. He’s still young and he’s a physical athlete. His best season came in his second year with the Steelers in 2023, when he had 63 receptions for 1,140 yards, and five touchdowns, despite inconsistent quarterback play in Pittsburgh. Despite his talents, however, his time in Pittsburgh was marked by several off-field issues that resulted in over $280,000 in fines for various infractions, including tardiness, unsportsmanlike conduct, and missing Christmas Day pregame warmups just last year. Though it’s somewhat risky, Pickens’ talent makes him worth the gamble for Dallas, especially if he can learn to manage his emotions.

That said, a third-round pick in next year’s draft (plus a 2027 fifth-round) does feel slightly expensive for a player who’s not yet proven to be an All-Proand with just one proven season under his belt (especially considering the deep WR class in the draft that Dallas chose to ignore). It’s pricey, especially if Dallas takes on the final year of Pickens’ rookie contract without a long-term extension in place.

Soon-to-be Cowboys WR George Pickens is heading into the last year of his contract and will want a new deal. His agent happens to be David Mulugheta, whose name Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said he did not know while talking about a new deal for Micah Parsons, another Mulugheta…

– Adam Scha after (@Adamscha after) May 7, 2025

The trade grade is brought back up, however, by how well Pickens complements Lamb. Lamb works the slot and immediate routes while Pickens brings a vertical threat outside. Quarterback Dak Prescott will now have a true boundary weapon – something they’ve been missing since Amari Cooper left the team in 2022. This will be the ultimate test. If Pickens is able to develop into a reliable WR2 beside Lamb, he’ll have been worth the investment. If he causes locker room problems or plateaus on the field, it’ll be a loss for Dallas.

Overall, the Cowboys took a calculated risk with the Pickens trade. It’s a bold move with a high upside but potential to completely blow up in their faces if it doesn’t pan out.