Cowboys Trade for George Pickens: A High-Risk, High-Reward Move
The good news is the Cowboys finally found someone to twin up with CeeDee Lamb, trading for a big, fast receiver Pro Football Focus ranked even higher at the position than Lamb, if you can believe it.
The bad news is, it’s George Pickens.
Who is George Pickens?
For a third-rounder and change, the Cowboys get a former second-round pick of the Steelers who’s accumulated at least 800 yards in each of the last three seasons despite working with quarterbacks past their prime or still in search of one.
Brian Schottenheimer also gets a guy called “truculent” and a “problem receiver” by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, citing his “temperament on the field” and “repeated” team violations that “became burdensome to his teammates and coach Mike Tomlin.”
Pickens’ Past Issues
The head coach didn’t exactly make a secret of it. After a win over the Bengals in Week 13 in which Pickens was flagged twice for unsportsmanlike conduct, Tomlin pulled no punches.
“He’s just got to grow up, man,” the head coach said. “This is an emotional game, man. These divisional games are big. 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.”
At the team’s year-end presser, Tomlin said Pickens had made progress but there was “certainly a heck of a lot more ground to be covered.”
Besides arguing with fans and getting in fights and having to be restrained by his teammates, Pickens reportedly was late to work last season on “multiple occasions,” according to the Post-Gazette. Showed up after the inactive players were announced for the Steelers’ Christmas Day game.
Cowboys’ Risk-Taking History
The recurring issues made the Steelers rethink the possibility of a long-term deal for Pickens, who’s going into the final season of his rookie contract. They’d considered pairing him with newly acquired DK Metcalf, perhaps thinking it might persuade Aaron Rodgers to take a closer look.
They ultimately decided Pickens wasn’t worth the risk, which now belongs to the Cowboys, who are at least used to such things.
Jerry Jones has a long history of risk-taking when desperate. Their current state in the NFC East qualifies.
Draft and Trade Moves
Despite the obvious need, the Cowboys didn’t even draft a receiver once Tetairoa McMillan went before they were on the clock in the first round. McMillan, 6-4, would have fit a profile the Cowboys have been seeking across from Lamb. They gave up a fourth-rounder for Jonathan Mingo (6-2, 220) and now a third and the swap of a fifth for a sixth to get Pickens, who goes 6-3, 200.
Potential Benefits
Dak Prescott will enjoy the catch radius, and Pickens should like playing catch with someone other than Kenny Pickett, Mitchell Trubisky, Mason Rudolph, Russell Wilson or Justin Fields.
Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson will tell you how much difference a system and quarterback can make for Pickens.
“Listen to me,” Johnson told USA Today. “I’ve seen his skillset. I know what he can do. Stay with me real quick. If he got the opportunities Ja’Marr Chase got in the Steelers’ offense, what do you think his numbers would be? If George Pickens got the opportunity Justin Jefferson got with Minnesota, what do you think his numbers would be?”
Johnson is also well aware of the problems Pickens has created for himself. Even sat him down recently and explained his “shrinking” window of opportunity. Johnson was so pleased with how the session went, he assured USA Today that Pickens wouldn’t be a problem going forward.
If it works out, maybe the Cowboys should hire Ochocinco as a counselor. If he’s got anything left, they could even double-dip.
Related News
Find more Cowboys coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.
Conclusion
The Cowboys’ trade for George Pickens is a high-risk, high-reward move that could pay off if the receiver can put his past issues behind him. With a new system and quarterback, Pickens has the potential to thrive and become a key player for the Cowboys. However, if his past problems persist, it could be a costly mistake for the team.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Who is George Pickens? George Pickens is a wide receiver who was traded to the Cowboys from the Steelers.
Q: What are Pickens’ past issues? Pickens has been known to have a bad temperament on the field, has been flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct, and has had issues with his teammates and coaches.
Q: Why did the Steelers trade Pickens? The Steelers traded Pickens due to his recurring issues and the risk of giving him a long-term contract.
Q: What are the potential benefits of the trade for the Cowboys? The trade could pay off if Pickens can put his past issues behind him and thrive in the Cowboys’ system with quarterback Dak Prescott.
