The Cowboys were reported interested in George Pickens.
The Dallas Cowboys have a full-fledged draft class and there is not a single wide receiver among the group. Suggesting that this would have happened at any point over the last few months might have garnered a few laughs, but here we sit.
In spite of not landing a receiver, the Cowboys had a very productive NFL draft. They stuck to their board and let talent come to them. If we are honest with ourselves then this is how we want to see the team approach this time of year. Sometimes it just leaves you shy at a spot or two.
Thankfully, as the Cowboys have made mention of, there are other opportunities and avenues to build your roster. Free agency is among those, but the Cowboys do not like to get all too involved there.
Veteran trades on the other hand is an outlet that we have seen Dallas explore. Consider that this offseason alone the Cowboys executed three trades for veteran players.
Over the weekend ESPN’s Todd Archer noted that the Cowboys had discussions with “an AFC North” team regarding a veteran wide receiver for what would have been a fourth. While there was heavy speculation as to who that player was, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini reported that Dallas was among the teams interested in Pittsburgh Steelers wideout George Pickens. That seems to all make sense together.
George Pickens’ name was tossed around in trade discussions this past week. The Cowboys were one of the teams that discussed bringing in the Steelers’ wideout, sources tell me.
But with the draft in the rearview, expect the trade buzz to cool surrounding Pickens. pic.twitter.com/bH25A76RhX
— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) April 29, 2025
Pittsburgh took Pickens in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft, four spots before Dallas took Sam Williams. There is no question that Pickens has talent as he has amassed 800 receiving yards in all three of his seasons to date (he led the league in yards per reception in 2023 with 18.1). The issue with him is that he seems to have fallen out of favor with the locker room and might be viewed as someone who could cause an issue or two.
Without saying this is exactly why Dallas didn’t trade for Pickens, there are obviously a number of reasons for the potential cause, if we live in this idea for a moment then it is indeed an idea that runs counter to what we are seeing the Cowboys build in the Brian Schottenheimer era, as young as it is. The draft showcased how Dallas is prioritizing leaders and players who are capable of rallying locker rooms in the interest of the common good. It isn’t the most wild leap of assumptions to say that the Cowboys, or any NFL team based on Pickens’ career to date, would not view him as somebody who falls in lockstep with that.
Considering that on Monday we saw Amari Cooper’s name floated out as a possible option for the Cowboys (he is a free agent so no trade compensation would be required, likely another factor with Pickens especially entering a contract year) it also doesn’t feel like a leap to suggest that the Cowboys are very aware that their receiver room needs work. To their credit, they seem focused on righting that wrong.
