So here’s what really went down. The Pittsburgh Steelers surprised a lot of people by trading George Pickens to the Dallas Cowboys, even though he led the team in receiving yards (900) last season. And guess what? It wasn’t some front office chess move. It came straight from head coach Mike Tomlin himself. Yeah, the same coach who had stuck by Pickens through all the drama off the field last time. But something perhaps shifted this time.
Mike Tomlin apparently decided he was done trying to fix things. So, they sent George Pickens and a 2027 sixth-rounder to Dallas, and in return, Pittsburgh gets a 2026 third and a 2027 fifth. What’s even more wild is that the Steelers didn’t even bring in a big-name receiver in the draft. That’s what made the move feel even more personal. Now with Pickens in Dallas, the pressure’s on Dak Prescott. The Cowboys gave him a weapon, and perhaps it’s time for no more excuses now. But wait….there is one more spot available in the team, which NFL legend, Julian Edelman, highlighted on Wednesday during a new episode of The Herd with Colin Cowherd.
Edelman talked about Dak Prescott and the Cowboys making George Pickens move. While people are hyping the move, Edelman’s not fully sold just yet. Recalling his time in New England, the three-time Super Bowl champ said, “You know, we had Tom Brady, who had three Super Bowls. We got Bill [Belichick]. They don’t know who their quarterback is…. You had other players, you had a young Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez, who were there at that point. Like, the team was changing already. So, it wasn’t like we just got jumped ship because he popped off. They clearly had a plan to go to that 12-personnel group, and that’s what we ended up doing for the next few years. So, uh, I don’t know, um, how this Pickens’ deal is going to turn out because ultimately, I mean, Dak [Prescott] has had weapons.”
Besides Pickens, he has CeeDee Lamb, Jake Ferguson at tight end – it looks stacked on paper. But Edelman made one thing super clear: none of that matters if they don’t have a solid run game. That’s what really makes Dak Prescott shine, as he quipped, “What makes Dak good is when he has a run game. That’s the truth. And they didn’t get a big-time running back. I know they got a running back in the fifth, and they got the [Javonte] Williams kid out of Denver from last year. But a quarterback’s best friend is a run game.”
And right now? They don’t have that. Edelman stressed it without a reliable backfield, it’s tough for any QB to thrive, especially in big moments. He also gave credit to Jerry Jones’ Cowboys for knowing how to draft linemen. So he’s not worried about that part. But unless one of those running backs steps up in a big way, he’s not convinced the offense will click the way fans are hoping. So, time will tell if Jones trades up for a solid running back this offseason or not to help Prescott. Until then, the franchise’s leaders are put to the test with George Pickens’ entry!
George Pickens: yay or nay for the team’s success?
This move isn’t just about Dak Prescott. It’s about the Cowboys finally saying enough with being soft on both sides of the ball. George Pickens brings that fire, that “in-your-face” edge they’ve been missing. Yes, he’s had issues in Pittsburgh – being late, penalties, even fights. But that chip on his shoulder? That is raw, and his physical energy is what guys like Dez Bryant, Michael Irvin, and even Draymond Green or Dennis Rodman built careers on.
Now, with Dak Prescott as captain and Brian Schottenheimer steering the offense, the real test isn’t just handling Pickens’ attitude. It’s whether this team can stop being one-dimensional, because if they still can’t run the ball or stop the run, none of this will matter.
Prescott had weapons before. But this wide receiver room might be his best yet. That’s why the heat is on. Because no excuses are left with George Pickens and CeeDee Lamb. Will this team keep being finesse? Or finally turn into something tougher?
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