Be careful what you wish for.
Dallas Cowboys fans begged Jerry Jones to make a splash in the wide receiver market.
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The owner promised to oblige and, after overlooking what was believed to be a promising – if not elite – NFL Draft class, he has made his move.
The Cowboys have traded for Pittsburgh Steelers wideout George Pickens with NFL insider Ian Rapoport suggesting a third-rounder and a late-round pick swap have been agreed as compensation.
Pickens has plenty of talent and, at his best, would be a dangerous No.2 target for Dak Prescott, especially with CeeDee Lamb keeping defenses honest.
The problem? There is a reason the Steelers traded for DK Metcalf and let Pickens — a second-round pick in 2021 — walk.
Pittsburgh head coach Mike Tomlin expects discipline from his players and publicly criticized his former widout last year.
“He’s just got to grow up, man,” Tomlin told reporters after Pickens picked up two flags for unsportsmanlike conduct in a 44-38 win over the Cincinnati Bengals.
“This is an emotional game, man. These divisional games are big. He got a target on his back because he’s George, he understands that. But he’s got to grow up. He’s got to grow up in a hurry.”
Pickens also got into a fight with Cleveland Browns defensive back Greg Newsome II in a Thursday Night Football showdown earlier in the season.
Arguably even more concerning were accusations that the pass-catcher was making a business decision and taking plays off.
In December 2023, he refused to block at the goal line in a loss to the Indianapolis Colts.
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“I was just trying to prevent the Tank Dell situation, the same thing that happened to [him],” he said at the time.
“I ain’t want to get an injury. When you stay on the block too low, you can get ran up on very easily.”
As if all that was not enough, Jones may be regretting his choice of words when describing Micah Parsons’ agent David Mulugheta.
As talks over a massive extension for the gifted defensive end continue, the owner was slammed for disrespecting the representitive.
“The agent is not a factor here, or something to worry about. And I don’t know his name,” he said in April. “And so my point is that I’m not trying to demean him in any way, but this isn’t about an agent.”
Pickens is entering the final year of his rookie deal and will be expecting a massive rise on his $3,656,000 cap hit for this season if he is to remain a Cowboy.
As well as finding the money after tying down Lamb, Prescott and potentially Parsons, Jones has another problem.
Mulugheta — already frustrated in his attempts to get one client a deal — also represents Pickens, per Adam Schefter.
Fans love to dunk on America’s Team at any opportunity and dived into the comments of Schefter’s X post.
“If Tomlin couldn’t keep him focused, I’m not sure Jerry can,” wrote one.
“What a perfect fit for the cowboys culture wise,” added a sarcastic second.
“The Dallas Divas is about to be their actual name,” a third wrote as another added “too many divas.”
“Wouldn’t wish being traded to the cowboys on anybody,” a fifth replied.
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