The Dallas Cowboys are striving to be the best version of themselves. Their search for a wide receiver led them to the Steelers‘ camp. And they made a perfect move for the 2025 season by adding George Pickens.

In 48 games (40 starts) over three seasons, the WR has recorded 174 receptions for 2,841 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns—numbers that point to significant potential. But is that truly the case? Pickens has also shown troubling behavior at times. Remember the Week 5 game against the Cowboys last year, when he grabbed cornerback Jourdan Lewis by the facemask and pulled him down after a 17–20 loss?

On May 7, the Cowboys announced a trade with the Steelers. They acquired George Pickens and a 2027 sixth-round pick in exchange for a 2026 third-round pick and a 2027 fifth-rounder. The Steelers had been looking to move him even during the draft, but most teams avoided the deal due to concerns about his on- and off-field issues, regardless of his talent.

According to NFL reporter Jeff Howe, some teams even laughed at the idea of signing the receiver at any cost. “Word leaked during the draft that Pickens was available if anyone wanted him. Some teams polled by The Athletic at the time laughed at the idea of inviting Pickens into their locker room for any price, let alone a second-day draft pick. There wasn’t a lot of interest in talking with the Steelers about a trade,” Howe wrote on Wednesday. That’s wild! Some teams didn’t want anything to do with the receiver, given his behavioral issues on multiple occasions.

In a Week 13 game against the Cincinnati Bengals last year, after completing a third-down catch, he threw the ball at a defender, then made a finger gun gesture toward the crowd. This resulted in two unsportsmanlike conduct penalties. The incident left head coach Mike Tomlin furious. After the game, he said, “He’s got a target on his back because he’s George. He understands that. But he’s got to grow up. He’s got to grow up in a hurry.” Well, he definitely needs to work on that.

The big question that still looms is, does he want to grow up or not? In the 2024 season, after missing the week 14 and 15 games because of a hamstring injury, he showed up late to the Christmas game against the Chiefs. The Steelers’ coach requires his players to arrive two hours before the kickoff. But he arrived one hour and 25 minutes earlier. The black and the gold had announced their inactive players.

However, the Cowboys have chosen Pickens despite all these things. And they are happy to add the receiver to their WR1, CeeDee Lamb. Double weapons will also help their QB Dak Prescott.

George Pickens is ready for an all-in effort

When the news got confirmed that George Pickens was arriving at AT&T Stadium, Lamb was very happy. He posted a short video on X, shaking hands, signaling a good gesture or welcoming approach for the new player. But they have known each other now for some time through their mutual connections for off-season workouts.

Cowboy reporter Tommy Yarrish interviewed the receiver, in which he praised the franchise, but also downplayed the talks of being a WR2. Pickens’s mindset was always of being a good receiver and playing alongside another good receiver. The former Steelers player said, “I’m just here to work. You guys are making a 1A and 1B, and all this. I feel like two receivers are kind of normal. CeeDee is a super dynamic receiver, super dynamic person, player.”

However, what got everyone’s attention was his description of the Cowboys. “That’s why I always come back to building a winning culture, and that’s kind of what we’ve been talking about in Dallas,” Pickens added.

With the addition of George Pickens, the team is ready for the future. Is this the season of change? Brace yourselves for more surprises!