George Pickens Reportedly Wasn't 'Uncoachable,' Steelers Liked WR Before Cowboys Trade

ESPN's Peter Schrager addressed some potential misconceptions regarding wide receiver George Pickens following reports of his trade from the Pittsburgh Steelers to the Dallas Cowboys on Wednesday.

During an appearance on Get Up, Schrager noted that Pickens had plenty of fans within the Steelers organization despite the outside narrative that he was volatile or tough to coach:

"I would like to correct some people. Some [seem] to think that he is a—I don't know—a diva, or he's cantankerous. I talked to the Steelers folks. George Pickens is demonstrative on the field, but he is not an uncoachable player. In fact, he does have a great way about him in the locker room, and is very well liked in Pittsburgh."

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Wednesday that the Steelers agreed to send Pickens and a 2027 sixth-round draft pick to the Cowboys in exchange for a 2026 third-round pick and a 2027 fifth-round pick.

Talent has never been a concern with Pickens, as he flashed plenty of it collegiately at Georgia, leading to the Steelers taking him 52nd overall in the second round of the 2022 NFL draft.

Over his three seasons in Pittsburgh, Pickens was highly productive, averaging about 947 yards per year. He topped the 1,000-yard mark for the first and only time in 2023 when he finished with 1,140 yards, and he followed it up with 59 receptions for 900 yards and three touchdowns last season.

Pickens' production came despite there being a revolving door at quarterback in Pittsburgh over the past three seasons, as Kenny Pickett, Mitchell Trubisky, Mason Rudolph, Russell Wilson and Justin Fields all started games.

There were times in Pittsburgh when Pickens seemed to wear his heart on his sleeve and show frustration, and inconsistent quarterback play may have contributed to it.

The Steelers still have an unsettled quarterback situation right now since Rudolph, rookie sixth-round pick Will Howard and Skylar Thompson are the only quarterbacks on the roster as the Steelers wait for an answer from future Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers regarding whether he will sign with them and play in 2025.

That shouldn't be an issue in Dallas, as Pickens will get to play with an established quarterback in Dak Prescott, who is a three-time Pro Bowler with 122 career starts to his credit.

An injury cost Prescott nine games last season, which contributed to the Cowboys going 7-10 and missing the playoffs, but quarterback won't be a concern in 2025 as long as he is healthy.

It seemed Pickens was poised to join forces with DK Metcalf as one of the NFL's most exciting receiver duos in Pittsburgh, but he will instead form a dynamic combo with CeeDee Lamb in Dallas.

Since Perkins is set to enter a contract year, the 2025 season in Dallas represents the perfect opportunity for him to put any and all concerns to bed regarding his attitude and character.

If he does that, Perkins stands to cash in with a massive contract from the Cowboys or another team by this time next year.