Star wide receiver George Pickens is swapping the black and gold for the silver and blue, having been traded from the Pittsburgh Steelers to the Dallas Cowboys. While Pickens displayed serious talent in Pittsburgh, his time there was also marked by some off-field issues. However, after Pickens left the team, it turns out the Steelers might have three other headaches.

The Steelers are about to look entirely different on offense in 2025. After trading George Pickens to the Cowboys this week, Pittsburgh now stands as the only NFL team without its top passer, rusher, or receiver from the 2024 season still on the roster. It’s like they hit the reset button on Madden or something. They already lost Russell Wilson and Justin Fields in free agency, along with Najee Harris, their top running back from last year—a total offseason cleanout.

On Saturday, the NFL Rumors page shared this stat: “#Steelers are the only #NFL team entering 2025 without their top QB, RB, and WR from 2024. #HereWeGo.” That doesn’t happen often—it’s not just a typical offseason rebuild. For perspective, in 2024, every team kept at least one of their top three playmakers from the previous year. Pittsburgh chose chaos. This year, the Steelers are just picking three headaches.

Pickens was electric after Pittsburgh drafted him in the second round of the 2022 draft. He made highlight reels weekly, but let’s not ignore his… let’s say interesting reputation off the field. Fines piled up—both from the team and the league—and Mike Tomlin probably had his “Coach Taylor from Friday Night Lights” moments trying to answer nonstop questions about Pickens’ maturity.

General Manager Omar Khan said there was some draft buzz around Pickens earlier, but nothing worth pursuing until the Cowboys’ interest came along. They also talked things out with Pickens directly before deciding that this move is just better for everyone involved. Khan summed it up like this: “I wouldn’t use the word disappointment. We had three years with George. We had some exciting times. It was just time. The fresh start for both sides was the right thing.” It’s a little diplomatic, but clear: it’s a mutual “later, man.”

The upside? The Steelers already traded for DK Metcalf, who’ll team up with Robert Woods, Calvin Austin, and Roman Wilson as their new-look receiving corps. Of course, no one knows who will throw to them yet. Enter: Aaron Rodgers rumors at full throttle. The Steelers are reportedly focused on trying to bring Rodgers in, hoping he has a little Green Bay magic left—think early-season Ted Lasso optimism. If they land Rodgers and he clicks, it’s a different ballgame altogether.

Pittsburgh isn’t crying over these departures either. Their offense hit a wall late last year, tanking their season with five straight losses to close it out, including going one-and-done in the playoffs. The message is clear: shake things up or keep spinning in mediocrity. If Rodgers pans out. But the Steelers aren’t feeling great about Rodgers’ situation since it seems he hasn’t come to any agreement with them.

The future of Aaron Rodgers: Steelers deal in limbo?

Aaron Rodgers’ future remains uncertain, and despite all the buzz, he has not committed to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Retirement remains a real possibility, and due to personal issues, the veteran QB continues to keep everyone guessing. Meanwhile, Mike Tomlin and the Steelers wait patiently, as there is no guarantee Rodgers will sign.

Peter Schrager clarified in a recent report that rumors about Rodgers giving the team a secret assurance are false. “I don’t think there’s an assumed handshake deal that: ‘Hey, don’t worry, I’ll get there.’ They would have announced it. Steelers would have signed him. They would have done it. I still believe he’s deliberating. From what I gather, Pittsburgh knows no more now than they did at the draft or before the draft.” No matter what Rodgers decides, the Steelers are still set to be a big deal in primetime games come 2025. The NFL schedule is probably already locked in. So it’s not likely to change, even if Rodgers makes up his mind before May 14.

Despite the uncertainty, the Steelers are willing to wait because they believe Rodgers could lead them to another Super Bowl. This is especially true after losing George Pickens in a trade to the Cowboys. However, retirement seems increasingly likely for Rodgers. He has hinted at personal issues within his inner circle and has not shown interest in joining Pittsburgh just yet. At 41, Rodgers might decide it is not worth wearing himself out and instead focus on his future. Additionally, he recently revealed he is in a “serious relationship,” which could influence his decision about whether to continue his football career.