Cowboys Reportedly Pursued Ravens' Rashod Bateman Before George Pickens Trade

The Dallas Cowboys explored a trade for Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman before ultimately acquiring Pittsburgh's George Pickens, according to Fox Sports' Jordan Schultz.

Their search for a receiver to pair with CeeDee Lamb was a “months-long process,” per Schultz.

Pickens was traded to Dallas on Wednesday following offseason speculation that he wanted out, fueled in part by his decision to unfollow the team on Instagram, though both he and Steelers general manager Omar Khan deny he ever requested a trade from Pittsburgh.

"It was like my old draft reaction. I found out when everyone else found out," Pickens told reporters. "I feel great, I like the mojo here. I like the swag, there's a lot of new players I've been meeting. I feel like they have a good thing going, for sure."

Pickens finished last season with 900 yards and three touchdowns, a slight step backward from his sophomore season where he produced 1,140 yards and five touchdowns.

Bateman, who recorded 756 yards and nine touchdowns last season, is set to be part of a wide receiver group that includes DeAndre Hopkins and Zay Flowers as Baltimore looks to build on a 12-5 season that ended with a Divisional round loss to the Buffalo Bills.