Pittsburgh Steelers ‘laughed at’ by NFL rivals over George Pickens trade proposals during NFL Draft before Cowboys deal

NFL teams mocked the Pittsburgh Steelers over putting wide receiver George Pickens in trade offers during the 2025 NFL Draft.

The Steelers, led by head coach Mike Tomlin, ultimately traded the polarizing Pickens to the Dallas Cowboys on Wednesday.

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Pittsburgh dealt the 2022 second-round pick Pickens in exchange for a third-round pick in next year’s NFL Draft.

The trade came on the same day of a report by The Athletic that revealed the Steelers’ pitch of putting Pickens on the trading block during the 2025 NFL Draft had opposing teams in hysterics.

“Word leaked during the draft that Pickens was available if anyone wanted him,” the outlet reported.

“Some teams polled by The Athletic at the time laughed at the idea of inviting Pickens into their locker room for any price, let alone a second-day draft pick.”

The report added that “there wasn’t a lot of interest in talking with the Steelers about a trade.”

The Steelers made the trade of Pickens after receiving two-time Pro Bowl wide receiver DK Metcalf from the Seattle Seahawks in a March trade.

Pittsburgh coveted a pick in the 2025 NFL Draft after shipping a second-round pick to the Seahawks in the trade.

There were rumblings that Pickens’ time in Steel City was uncertain.

The 24-year-old was late to the Christmas Day game with the Kansas City Chiefs.

Then, a few weeks later, Pickens got in an altercation with fans.

Tomlin previously claimed the Georgia product needed to “grow up in a sincere warning.

“He’s just gotta grow up, man,” Tomlin said in December.

Pickens also seemingly unfollowed the Steelers on social media following a report before the NFL Draft that claimed the team had been looking to trade him.

He will be entering the final year of his rookie contract.

Pickens will work behind star wide receiver CeeDee Lamb and catch the football from franchise quarterback Dak Prescott.

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Last season, he posted 59 receptions for 900 yards and three touchdowns in 14 games.

His best season came in 2023 when he recorded 63 catches for 1,140 receiving yards and five touchdowns in 17 games.

The Steelers will now have a less-than-stellar wide receiver group behind Metcalf.

Robert Woods, Calvin Austin III, Scotty Miller, and Ben Skowronek are among the wideout options for whoever leads the offense in 2025.

Aaron Rodgers has been heavily linked with Pittsburgh but has yet to make a decision on his future.