Context:

George Pickens, a receiver from the Pittsburgh Steelers, was traded to the Dallas Cowboys, but not without some controversy. Despite his consistent performance of averaging 1,006 receiving yards per season, many NFC teams were not interested in acquiring him due to concerns about his presence in the locker room. The Cowboys, however, saw an opportunity and decided to take the risk, hoping that with CeeDee Lamb's presence, Pickens would thrive. The trade reflects the Cowboys' willingness to overlook potential issues in favor of the player's on-field capabilities. It is anticipated that the move to Dallas will bring positive results for Pickens and the team, with Dak Prescott at quarterback and Lamb potentially aiding in his integration.

Dive Deeper:

• George Pickens was available for trade during the NFL draft, but many NFC teams showed little interest due to concerns about his locker room presence, considering him not worth the cost.

• Despite Pickens' notable performance of averaging over a thousand receiving yards annually, the skepticism from other teams highlights significant off-field concerns.

• The Dallas Cowboys, unlike other teams, were willing to take the risk of trading for Pickens, seeing potential value in his abilities as a wide receiver.

• With CeeDee Lamb on the team, the Cowboys believe that Pickens can excel and that Lamb's presence will help mitigate any potential issues.

• The decision to trade for Pickens underscores the Cowboys' focus on enhancing their roster's capabilities while managing the perceived risks associated with his acquisition.

• There is optimism that the new environment in Dallas, with quarterback Dak Prescott, will lead to a successful integration and performance for Pickens.

• The trade decision is a testament to the Cowboys' strategy of prioritizing athletic potential and addressing team needs over concerns that have deterred other teams.

• The Dallas Cowboys may not have had as much competition to trade for George Pickens as some NFL fans would expect.

• In fact, the enigmatic Pittsburgh Steelers receiver wasn't worth any cost at all to some NFC teams.

• Here's what The Athletic's Jeff Howe wrote about the wideout after the trade:

• "Word leaked during the draft that Pickens was available if anyone wanted him. 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. There wasn’t a lot of interest in talking with the Steelers about a trade."

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• Pickens has averaged 1,006 receiving yards a year through his first three seasons.

• To not want any part of that at all speaks to how teams view Pickens.

• He seemed to be heading toward a better mindset this season, seemingly happy to have DK Metcalf in town and likely looking forward to catching passes from probable signee Aaron Rodgers.

• Instead, the Steelers shipped him to Dallas.

• It's a good landing spot for a receiver, with CeeDee Lamb to take a lot of the attention and Dak Prescott there letting it rip.

• Dallas evidently didn't have quite the concerns of some other teams across the NFL.

• It was worth whatever the risk was in order to acquire a star wide receiver. Lamb should help keep him in check. Hopefully that leads to more happiness all around.

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