The Steelers traded wide receiver George Pickens to the Dallas Cowboys last offseason, but they might be able to bring him back this spring.
Pickens will be a free agent this offseason, and if the Cowboys decide not to re-sign him or franchise tag him, he will hit the open market.
However, if Pickens becomes available, many teams will be eager to sign him, as he will be one of the hottest names on the market. ESPN’s Matt Bowen published his list of the top 50 upcoming free agents, placing Pickens at No. 2 overall.
“With 22 receptions of 20 or more yards in 2025 (fourth most in the league), Pickens has the explosive ability to flip the field,” Bowen wrote on Thursday. “That skill will lead to big money in the open market if he isn’t franchise-tagged. Pickens also finished third in the NFL with 1,429 receiving yards. His ability to run routes at all three levels boosts his free agent profile even more.”
Pickens could be a No. 1 receiver for many teams, and with CeeDee Lamb already there, has the No. 1 receiver in Dallas. The Cowboys might not want to sign Pickens to a long-term deal.
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The Steelers no longer have head coach Mike Tomlin, which could mean Pickens won’t be coming back to Pittsburgh, since the two seemed to do well together. With new head coach Mike McCarthy, an offense-minded coach, he might want to upgrade the receiving room with a proven veteran.
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