After allowing the departure of the Pittsburgh Steelers‘ best receiver to the Dallas Cowboys in exchange for a third-round pick in the 2026 draft and a fifth-round pick in the 2027 draft, the team’s general manager, Omar Khan, defended the decision to let George Pickens go, saying it “made sense for everyone.”
“We just talked it through, had a lot of serious, honest conversations and felt that a fresh start for both parties was the right thing to do,” Khan said, despite the fact that the receiver never asked to leave the Steelers, ESPN reported.
“Some people asked during the draft, but nothing really sensible. The Cowboys contacted us earlier this week and proposed something for us to consider,” Khan added.
Pickens’ era with the Steelers was not a disappointment
The general manager of the six-time Super Bowl-winning team insisted that Pickens‘ three-season stint with the Steelers was not disappointing at all, even though his time with the team was marked by several incidents of immature behavior.
“I wouldn’t use the word disappointment,” Khan said. “You know we spent three years with George, and we had some exciting times, but it’s time for a fresh start. For both parties, it was the right thing to do.”
In his three years with the Steelers, Pickens had 174 receptions for 2,841 yards and 12 touchdowns, and left in the memory of fans some of the best and most spectacular catches for a receiver in the league.
On Thursday, at his introductory press conference in Dallas, Pickens said he didn’t think about how he could have done things differently while in Pittsburgh.
I really can’t say that. I’m more of being where I am now, where I am, so I can’t even think about the past. I’m just happy to be a Cowboy.
Although the timing of the swap prevented the Steelers from recouping draft picks and a potential rookie receiver from this year’s crop, Khan claimed to have confidence in the Steelers’ remaining receivers.
The team previously acquired Seattle Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf in a spectacular trade on the eve of free agency and recently signed veteran receiver Robert Woods to a one-year contract.
Both join a group that also includes Calvin Austin III, a fourth-round pick in the 2022 draft, and Roman Wilson, a third-round pick in the 2024 draft.
“We wouldn’t have done this if we weren’t comfortable with the receiver situation,” Khan said. “I know people make comparisons to last year; it’s not even close to the same.”
A year ago, the Steelers looked to trade for 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk to add depth to their roster of Pickens, Austin, Wilson, Scotty Miller and Van Jefferson.
“Obviously, we invested in DK; we’ve had another year with some of the young guys and got to know them, seen them develop. We brought in Robert Woods and Roman is healthy. Obviously, he didn’t get the chance to play, but there was some excitement.
“We have a good group. There are some players that have come back, we’ve seen their growth and we’re a year further on with them, which we’re pleased about,” Khan said, who did not rule out the possibility of adding another veteran receiver to the roster, but reiterated his confidence in the current group.
“If the opportunity arises to add a key player to the offense, regardless of whether it’s a receiver or anyone else, we’ll look into it,” Khan said.
“And if it makes sense, it makes sense. But there’s always good players available. There’s good players available. If we wanted to add some, we could, but we’re comfortable with them,” he concluded.
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