Steelers Fans Could See Nightmare Scenario Play Out As George Pickens' Future Hangs In The Balance

The Pittsburgh Steelers made the hard decision to part ways with wide receiver George Pickens during the 2025 offseason as the organization traded him to the Dallas Cowboys. He was then expected to have the best season of his career as he was going to be catching passes from one of the better quarterbacks in the league (Dak Prescott), while lining up alongside one of the NFL's best wide receivers in CeeDee Lamb. He has delivered on those expectations thus far as he has set career highs in every major statistical category, but his future is a major question as he is currently in the final year of his rookie contract.

Pickens entering the final year of his rookie deal was a big reason Pittsburgh decided to trade him. The Steelers were able to get draft capital for him during the 2025 offseason rather than losing him for next to nothing in 2026, and the franchise had no idea whether or not he would play well enough to earn a large contract to help the Steelers when it came to the compensatory pick formula. It was arguably the right move, despite the success Pickens has been having with the Cowboys. Dallas seems to want to keep Pickens around past this season, but it will be expensive. 

NFL insider Jeremy Fowler discussed Pickens' future in a recent article for ESPN, highlighting Pickens as a player that could help a team that has disappointed in 2025.

"The Chiefs and Ravens both need a classic boundary receiver on the outside and could address that with one big move in free agency," Fowler wrote. "George Pickens would be a significant upgrade in Baltimore, and Alec Pierce would satisfy that need in Kansas City, which has been starved for explosive playmaking on the outside since Tyreek Hill was traded after the 2021 season. Both would be costly, and Pickens might be franchise-tagged by Dallas. But if available, the Ravens could use some of their $40 million in 2026 cap space on Pickens, knowing John Harbaugh is good at managing big personalities."

The Baltimore Ravens have seemingly always been starving when it comes to the wide receiver position under Harbaugh, and Pickens would certainly fill a need there if he is pursued by the Ravens in free agency. There is also a chance that Pickens does not even make it to free agency as Dallas could tag the receiver or reach an agreement on an extension beforehand.

Steelers fans have had to watch Pickens go to Dallas and become one of the best wide receivers in the league, and things could somehow get worse. Pickens going to the franchise's biggest rival would be excruciatingly painful, and he would also be set up to make plays against Pittsburgh. Seeing Pickens twice a year would not be ideal, and it is a move that the Ravens could absolutely make happen.

This would not be the first time a star from Pittsburgh has wound up in Baltimore. This happened with Mike Wallace later on in his career, and it also happened with Le'Veon Bell.

Steelers Fans Need To Believe In Jerry Jones

There is one simple way for Pickens to avoid even having the ability to sign with Baltimore, and that is to keep him from entering free agency. That can happen by Dallas franchise-tagging the receiver or getting an extension done. The only issue is that Pickens is represented by David Mulugheta, who is the same agent that represents Micah Parsons. Jerry Jones and Mulugheta did not have the best relationship while trying to get a deal done for Parsons during the 2025 offseason, but hopefully that doesn't play a role in any negotiations for Pickens.

Currently, Pickens is projected to be worth roughly $31 million per year. He is expected to sign a deal that is somewhere in the neighborhood of four-years for $124 million. Hopefully an organization other than Baltimore is able to beat that.

What do you think about Pickens potentially going to the Ravens? Let us know in the comments below!

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