George Pickens is not a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers. After three seasons of spotlight catches, Pickens has been traded to the Dallas Cowboys. The transfer doesn’t fully come out of nowhere, however the timing is odd. The draft has come and gone, and the very best free brokers have signed. That leaves the Steelers with a gap at receiver and never many choices to repair it. Nonetheless, former NFL offensive lineman Ross Tucker doesn’t suppose that’s sufficient to say the Steelers misplaced this commerce.
“Now we have to imagine that the Steelers took the very best provide that they had,” Tucker stated lately on his podcast. “So no, the Steelers didn’t get fleeced. We’ll see the way it performs out. It’s one 12 months for George Pickens, after which we’ll see what occurs after that.
“However I don’t suppose folks actually take into consideration all the opposite penalties. He wants a brand new contract. It’s one 12 months. He’s had his points. I feel it’s silly to say the Steelers received fleeced.”
Tucker is appropriate that it could be slightly early to say the Steelers misplaced this commerce. In return, they obtained a 2026 third-round decide and a 2027 fifth-round decide in a swap for a sixth-round decide. Whereas these are future belongings, Pittsburgh might use them in a separate deal, possibly even to assist them transfer up in subsequent 12 months’s draft.
Changing Pickens this 12 months goes to be tough, however the Steelers have choices. A lot of the free brokers, like Keenan Allen and Amari Cooper, are previous their prime however might nonetheless have some fuel left within the thank. Additionally, the Steelers might make one other commerce for a receiver. There’s loads of expertise at that place within the league.
Tucker can be appropriate that Pickens goes into the final 12 months of his present contract. He might go away the Cowboys after this season. Whereas they’d get a compensatory decide to assist make up for the third-round choice they gave to Pittsburgh, that in all probability wouldn’t assist them appear to be winners of this commerce.
There’s additionally no telling how issues will go for Pickens in Dallas. His angle might turn into much more of an issue. That’s occurred with earlier Steelers receivers after they’ve left Pittsburgh.
Have a look at the Diontae Johnson commerce final 12 months. On the time, it appeared just like the Steelers didn’t get the very best return potential. They obtained Donte Jackson and a late-round decide swap. Taking a look at how Johnson’s profession has gone since then, the Steelers had been in all probability proper to chop bait with him. Jackson struggled close to the tip of the 12 months, however he recorded a number of massive turnovers for the Steelers, so the return wasn’t horrible.
Perhaps one thing comparable will occur with the Pickens commerce. Though it makes the Steelers worse for now, it could possibly be the precise transfer in the long term. Solely time will inform.
