In a move that has sent shockwaves through Steelers Nation, Pittsburgh traded rising star wide receiver George Pickens to the Dallas Cowboys, along with a 2027 sixth-round pick, in exchange for a 2026 third-rounder and a 2027 fifth. The deal, coming off the heels of the Steelers' blockbuster acquisition of DK Metcalf from Seattle, has fans and analysts alike wondering: what exactly is Pittsburgh’s plan for 2025?
George Pickens trade fallout: No QB, No WR, no clear plan
For a team long known for consistency and calculated decisions, this offseason feels anything but. Trading away one of the most electrifying young talents in George Pickens has drawn fierce criticism, especially given the team’s current instability at quarterback. With only rookie Will Howard, journeyman Mason Rudolph, and unproven Skylar Thompson on the depth chart, Pittsburgh’s offensive future looks murky at best.
Yet amidst the growing concern, Steelers defensive captain Cam Heyward is preaching calm. On his podcast Not Just Football, Heyward directly addressed the rising panic:
“This is a PSA for all Steeler fans: don’t panic, stay patient, we’ll get to work.”
Is trading Pickens part of a bigger plan or a mistake?
Pickens was a fan favorite, a spark plug who brought edge and energy to the Steelers’ offense. Losing him, even with Metcalf in the mix, raises real questions about Pittsburgh’s identity heading into 2025. Calvin Austin III and Robert Woods now join Metcalf in the starting trio, but the firepower still feels limited especially with no proven quarterback to drive the system. So is this the beginning of a calculated rebuild? A quiet tank job in hopes of landing a top-tier QB in the 2026 draft class? Or a misstep by a front office trying to do too much, too fast?
Also Read: NFL’s newest metric that’s turning heads: Unexpected QB outranks Mahomes, Lamar and even Kelce in Star-Predictor Score (SPS) test rankings
Whatever the case, Pittsburgh has taken a major gamble. And in a division that’s only getting stronger, the margin for error is razor-thin. Cam Heyward’s words may offer momentary reassurance, but unless this team delivers on the field, those same words could echo through one of the most scrutinized seasons in recent Steelers memory.
George Pickens trade fallout: No QB, No WR, no clear plan
For a team long known for consistency and calculated decisions, this offseason feels anything but. Trading away one of the most electrifying young talents in George Pickens has drawn fierce criticism, especially given the team’s current instability at quarterback. With only rookie Will Howard, journeyman Mason Rudolph, and unproven Skylar Thompson on the depth chart, Pittsburgh’s offensive future looks murky at best.
Yet amidst the growing concern, Steelers defensive captain Cam Heyward is preaching calm. On his podcast Not Just Football, Heyward directly addressed the rising panic:
“This is a PSA for all Steeler fans: don’t panic, stay patient, we’ll get to work.”
Is trading Pickens part of a bigger plan or a mistake?
Pickens was a fan favorite, a spark plug who brought edge and energy to the Steelers’ offense. Losing him, even with Metcalf in the mix, raises real questions about Pittsburgh’s identity heading into 2025. Calvin Austin III and Robert Woods now join Metcalf in the starting trio, but the firepower still feels limited especially with no proven quarterback to drive the system. So is this the beginning of a calculated rebuild? A quiet tank job in hopes of landing a top-tier QB in the 2026 draft class? Or a misstep by a front office trying to do too much, too fast?
Also Read: NFL’s newest metric that’s turning heads: Unexpected QB outranks Mahomes, Lamar and even Kelce in Star-Predictor Score (SPS) test rankings
Whatever the case, Pittsburgh has taken a major gamble. And in a division that’s only getting stronger, the margin for error is razor-thin. Cam Heyward’s words may offer momentary reassurance, but unless this team delivers on the field, those same words could echo through one of the most scrutinized seasons in recent Steelers memory.
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