George Pickens didn’t take the high road, he took the mic and lit the place up.
Days after the Steelers dealt him to Dallas, the 24-year-old wideout took to Instagram with smoke still coming off the trade wires and let it fly. No cryptic messages. No polished PR speak. Just raw frustration.
“They the cheapest organization,” he posted. “Ain’t no stacking year after year. They gonna let them n*ggas go too soon as it’s time lmao.” Pickens didn’t just close the chapter, he slammed the book shut, tossed it in the fire, and walked away without looking back.
Pickens Heads To Dallas, Leaves Baggage Behind
The Steelers sent Pickens to the Cowboys for a 2026 third-round pick and a 2027 sixth-rounder, while Dallas also tossed in a 2027 fifth-round pick. For the Cowboys, it fills their glaring need for a true No. 2 wide receiver opposite CeeDee Lamb. For Pickens, it marks a fresh start after what had clearly become a tense situation in Pittsburgh.
Pickens led the Steelers with 2,040 receiving yards since 2023, nearly doubling the next-best receiver on the team, according to ESPN Research. Despite his production, the front office made moves this offseason that suggested they were moving on, including a high-profile trade for DK Metcalf in March.
🚨🚨OH WOW🚨🚨
FORMER #STEELERS STAR GEORGE PICKENS WENT OFF ON THE TEAM ON INSTAGRAM AFTER THEY TRADED HIM.
“THEY THE CHEAPEST ORGANIZATION. AIN’T NO STACKING YEAR AFTER YEAR THEY GONE LET THEM N*GGAS GO TOO SOON AS IT’S TIME LMAO”
WOW 😳😳😳 pic.twitter.com/fnV6Gse7FM
— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) May 11, 2025
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin didn’t hide his feelings about Pickens either. After a Week 13 win over Cincinnati in which Pickens picked up two unsportsmanlike conduct penalties, Tomlin said, “He’s just got to grow up, man.” He doubled down at the end of the season, pointing to a need for more maturity.
Pickens, who missed three games in 2024 with a hamstring strain, had his share of run-ins on the field, including a scuffle with Browns cornerback Greg Newsome II during a Hail Mary attempt. While sometimes effective, his aggressive demeanor often drew criticism from coaches and fans alike.
Now in Dallas, George Pickens joins CeeDee Lamb and Dak Prescott, filling a long-standing receiver gap. The Cowboys skipped drafting a wideout but finally addressed Amari Cooper’s absence. Still, they don’t plan to extend Pickens’ deal, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. Whether this fresh start boosts his career or adds to the drama remains to be seen.
