The Pittsburgh Steelers have had a busy offseason in 2025 when it comes to the wide receiver position. The organization acquired DK Metcalf via a trade with the Seattle Seahawks ahead of the start of free agency, and the franchise then traded away George Pickens to the Dallas Cowboys. Pickens was a highly effective player on the field, but he struggled to keep his emotions in check and show signs of maturity throughout his time in Pittsburgh. The Steelers were able to land a third-round pick in 2026 for Pickens and a sixth-rounder in 2027, while Pittsburgh also received a fifth-round pick in 2027.
Pickens was also going into the final year of his rookie contract, and the Steelers had no intention to extend him. This would mean the organization would lose him anyway in free agency following the 2025 season, so it made sense to trade him away now.
The business side of the NFL can be rough on players, and second-year guys Payton Wilson and Beanie Bishop Jr. now realize that. The two appeared on the most recent episode of Beanie's Bakery, which released on Sunday.
While talking with one another, the trade of Pickens was brought up. The two were both shocked by it, but Wilson had an interesting way of looking at things from a player's perspective.
"The front office isn't just making moves for like this year, and that's kind of what I've had to learn." Wilson said. "They're really trying to stack like year on top of year, on top of year. Obviously, us being in it, we want to win a Super Bowl every single year. It's probably a little different for the front office, you know? They make this trade, 'Ok, we can set up for this pick in this year.' Obviously I have no clue what I'm talking about, but that's just the way I look at it. I don't even really like, like where I'm at, I play ball, I try to do my job."
Both Wilson and Bishop didn't seem to enthusiastic about Pickens being traded to Dallas, but the two sounded understanding of the situation. His contract was about to expire and this was a way that the organization could plan for the future. Adding Metcalf earlier in the offseason made Pickens expendable, and there is a chance the wide receiver room in Pittsburgh could be better in 2025.
Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers' wide receiver DK Metcalf during 2025 voluntary offseason workout program in April.
Metcalf is more proven in the NFL, and he is more mature despite the fact that he has had his own share of issues on the field. He has drawn unnecessary flags and had his own outbursts on the sidelines, but he has at least shown improvement in that regard. Meanwhile, Pickens never once seemed to care when he hurt his team. He kept doing it week after week, and he would completely check out of games at times which was unacceptable.
Former Steelers Receiver Responded To His Former Teammates
Wilson and Bishop were discussing the trade in a completely civil and respectful manner, but Pickens decided to respond to the comments in an Instagram comment that has since been deleted. Pickens didn't say anything personal about Wilson or Bishop, but he did trash the organization by calling it cheap. It was as if he was insinuating the organization was cheap for not wanted to extend Pickens, which is absolutely ridiculous.
Pickens must be completely oblivious to his actions over the last three seasons, because there is no world in which a player with his numbers and lack of self control would get a lucrative extension, especially from the Steelers.
Hopefully the wide receiver can turn a new leaf with the Cowboys, but it is hard to imagine he will be with that franchise for longer than a season.
