Earlier this week, the Pittsburgh Steelers traded wide receiver George Pickens to the Dallas Cowboys for a third-round draft pick and a swap of Day 3 picks. This move follows a three-year period where Pickens was both a productive asset and a source of frustration for the Steelers. General Manager Omar Khan believed this was the right moment to let go of Pickens.

“We had three years with George. We had some exciting times,” Khan stated, via The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “The fresh start for both sides was the best thing.”

Interestingly, this trade occurred after the 2025 NFL Draft, which isn’t typical as teams generally prefer to deal players before the draft to secure replacement assets before the season begins. Khan explained that the decision was purely based on the offers the Steelers had received for Pickens, which were somewhat unconventional.

“We had some people inquire during the draft. Nothing made sense,” he shared. “The Cowboys reached out and proposed something for us to think about.”

This deal appears to have left the Steelers thin in their receiving corps, given last year’s scenario where Pickens was their most formidable offensive threat. Despite this, Khan’s comments suggest confidence in his current players.

“We wouldn’t have done this if we didn’t feel good about the receiver situation,” he asserted, via TribLive.

Khan also expressed optimism about having DK Metcalf (who was traded earlier this offseason), Calvin Austin III, and Roman Wilson in the lineup, all of whom will be crucial as the team navigates this transitional phase.

Despite confidence in Austin and Wilson, both have shown limited production, leading the Steelers to hedge their bets on internal development in the wake of Pickens’ departure, leaving their quarterback situation uncertain in the wake of these adjustments.