In theory, this was set to be a slow week in the NFL calendar. Some teams would hold rookie mini-camps, but that was about it.
That is, until Wednesday, when the Pittsburgh Steelers dealt star receiver George Pickens to the Dallas Cowboys. He will now be one-half of one of the NFL’s premier receiver duos with CeeDee Lamb, and he broke his silence on that on Thursday.
Pickens had tallied over 900 receiving yards in each of his first three seasons in the league, all with the Steelers after they used a second-rounder on him in 2022. But, he was a troublmaker, to say the least. George Pickens was prone to take plays off, was prone to sideline outburst, and would pout during and after games. He was in a contract year, and it’s simply too big of a risk to give a guy like that a monster contract when he doesn’t seem particularly committed to winning. So, the Steelers, whose quarterback situation is a mess as it stands, decided to move him after not doing so before or during the draft like many thought they would.
Now, he will pair up with CeeDee Lamb as part of possibly the best duo that Dak Prescott has had to throw to in his career. And, he seems excited about it. Here’s Pro Football Talk with more.
You guys making a 1A and 1B and all this,” Pickens said. “Honestly, that’s the first time I’ve heard of any of that stuff. I feel like two receivers are kind of normal. When I used to watch football, there was always a good receiver and then there was another good receiver on the side of him. I just feel like we’re going to work off each other very well.”
Pickens said he believes the trade will be mutually beneficial for both Lamb and himself, with no one worried about stats.
“CeeDee is a super dynamic receiver, super dynamic person, player,” Pickens said. “I just feel like schematically you won’t be able to double everybody, so that’ll be a great thing for me and him.”
It sounds like George Pickens has the right attidue, at least for now.
