Mike Tomlin seemed to have hung up a sign on the Steelers locker room saying, No George Pickens Allowed—a dramatic move after the wideout posted impressive 2024 numbers. Critics say it was rash. But Mike Tomlin stood firm. After three years of flags and fines, he’d had enough of his 24-year-old WR’s bratty attitude.

George Pickens had chickened out of growing up, collecting more fines than trophies. Now, he starts the next chapter of his journey, stitched in signature white and blue, with the Cowboys, where there’s no room left for mistakes.

On May 7th, Brandon Loree shared a video from ESPN’s Get Up on X, where analyst Peter Schrager offered a behind-the-scenes look at the George Pickens trade. Schrager pushed back against the growing negative narrative around Pickens’ character. “I would like to correct some people,” he said. “Some people think that he is a, I don’t know, a diva or he’s cantankerous… I talked to the Steelers folks. George Pickens is demonstrative on the field, but he is not an uncoachable player. In fact, he does have a great way about him in the locker room and is very well-liked in Pittsburgh.” Maybe Peter’s hinting that it wasn’t George causing the friction.

That context makes the trade all the more curious. The Cowboys receive Pickens and a 2027 sixth-rounder. In return, Pittsburgh grabs a 2026 third and a 2027 fifth. On paper, it’s a swap of picks and potential. But in reality, it feels like a message—this move was more about behavior than ability. After all, it wasn’t long ago that Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin was calling out Pickens on national TV.

Mike’s advice to Pickens to “grow up” wasn’t out of the blue. Back on December 7th against the Bengals, Pickens racked up two unsportsmanlike conduct penalties. In the first quarter, Pickens was flagged for taunting, costing him $10,231. Then again, in the third quarter, a violent gesture added another $10,231 to his tab. That little meltdown cost him $20,462 in fines and may have cost him Tomlin’s trust. That moment was a turning point. Pittsburgh, a franchise known for tolerating personalities if they produce, seemed to have hit its limit. Suddenly, George wasn’t just a rising star. He was a liability.

Still, the question remains: Will Pickens’ habit of ruffling feathers put torch to the Cowboys locker room? Pickens, for his part, has already addressed the chatter. “I can’t change anyone’s opinion. Me, personally, I just continue to grow,” he said. “Everyone in the world has to grow as you get older and older. I’m just trying to build a winning culture, which they already have at the Cowboys. I’m just glad to be joining.” That sounds like a young man pivoting—maybe maturing—under the bright lights.

Steelers fans may have already hit the rearview mirror, but George Pickens? He’s pressing the gas toward Dallas. If he is to be believed, he can deliver Cowboys fans to a winning culture. 

George Pickens’ era begins even without a number 

The Cowboys haven’t handed George Pickens a jersey number yet—but that hasn’t stopped fans from buying in, literally. As Jon Machota pointed out in an X post, “George Pickens doesn’t have an official Dallas Cowboys jersey number yet, but his jerseys are already on sale through the team’s pro shop. They’ll ship when the number has been officially confirmed.” It’s a strange sight—selling the look before locking in the identity. 

But fans are not strangers to Pickens’ identity, a mix of raw emotion and highlight-worthy game. In 14 games (with 12 starts), he pulled in 59 catches for 900 yards and 3 touchdowns. Injuries sidelined him for three contests, but when he played, he made noise—especially with his 15.3 yards per reception, the sixth-best average in the league among receivers with at least 50 grabs. Now, he joins a Cowboys attack that already has firepower—and maybe less pressure to be the lone standout.

He’ll be sharing that spotlight with one of the league’s brightest WRs: CeeDee Lamb. Pickens seems more energized than threatened. “CeeDee is a super dynamic receiver, super dynamic person, player,” he said. “I just feel like schematically you won’t be able to double everybody, so that’ll be a great thing for me and him.” Lamb is coming off a monster 2023 season, racking up 1,749 receiving yards and breaking the Cowboys’ franchise record in the process. For Dallas, this might be the most explosive pairing since the days of Irvin and Harper.

But with fire comes risk. The penalties, the temper, the past—it’s all still part of Pickens’ package. Whether this duo rewrites Cowboys history or writes up more sideline drama, only time will tell.