Welcome to the Thursday Edition of the Pick Six Newsletter!

The beginning of May is often slow in the NFL, but Jerry Jones surprised everyone by trading George Pickens early in the morning on May 8, 2025. That trade was executed at 5:50 a.m. CT, showing that Jerry doesn’t mince words.

This edition offers an overview of the implications of Pickens’ departure and a preview of the upcoming NFL schedule.

1. NFL Schedule Release Preview: Seven Key Insights for 2025

With the NFL schedule set to be unveiled soon, here are some details we already know:

1. Thursday Night Opener in Philadelphia: The reigning Super Bowl champion, the Philadelphia Eagles, will kick off the season at home.
2. Week 1 Game in Brazil: For the second consecutive year, a game will take place in Sao Paulo featuring the Los Angeles Chargers.
3. Three Matches in London: The Jets, Browns, and Jaguars will host one game each in London.
4. New Cities as Hosts: Berlin, Madrid, and Dublin will see their first NFL games this season.
5. Traditional Thanksgiving Games Return: The Lions and Cowboys will once again host games on Thanksgiving.
6. Christmas Games: The NFL will embrace Christmas this year with three games scheduled—marking a historic moment.
7. Every Team’s Home and Away Matchups Confirmed: Each NFL team knows who they will be facing, even if the schedule is still in flux.

For more details, check the full schedule preview here.

2. Post-Pickens: Three Receiver Targets for the Steelers

With Pickens now a former Steeler, they may soon seek to bolster their receiving corps. Current options include Calvin Austin III and Robert Woods, who have signed recently.

Three potential targets include:

• Allen Lazard: A receiver familiar with both Aaron Rodgers and the NFL system.
• Keenan Allen: A free agent despite his advanced age, but with a solid last season performance.
• Amari Cooper: Still potent, Cooper is a seasoned option worth considering.

You can find a comprehensive list of potential signings for the Steelers in the full article linked above.

3. Top Defensive Free Agents Available

The breakdown of the most sought-after defenders features:

• Zadarius Smith and his impressive sack record.
• Stephon Gilmore remains a formidable cornerback after a strong season with the Cowboys.
• Justin Simmons, a valuable safety looking for a new home.

For the complete list, please check this link.

4. Tyreek Hill’s Quarterback Rankings

Tyreek Hill has ranked the top quarterbacks in the NFL, surprisingly including Baker Mayfield instead of Tua Tagovailoa. Hill’s comments raised eyebrows within the league.

5. Offseason Grades for the NFL

As the discussion continues on the NFL offseason, the Steelers received an ‘A-’ for their performance—highlighting their determined approach towards fortifying the team’s physicality.

6. Rams’ Minicamp in Hawaii

This summer, the Rams are elevating their training camp experience by holding it in Hawaii from June 16-19, further engaging fans and team cohesion.

Stay tuned for more updates and insights in the upcoming newsletters!