The Dallas Cowboys made a huge move when they traded for George Pickens. On paper, he was just the type of player they needed to pair with CeeDee Lamb and give their passing game a huge boost. However, he also came with plenty of baggage.
Pickens had a long history of temper tantrums, both on the field and on social media. Also, watching Mike Tomlin give up on such a young and talented player was a major red flag, especially given his team's lack of talent on offense.
However, so far, so good for him in Dallas. He hasn't been as involved in the passing game as he would like, but he's already made a strong impression. When asked about him, head coach Brian Schottenheimer hinted at giving him a more prominent role going forward.
Brian Schottenheimer Says George Pickens Is a No. 1 Receiver
"George has been a true number one and we've been blessed to have two number ones," the coach said, per DLLS Cowboys.
That's about to be put to the test. CeeDee Lamb rolled his ankle, and he's reportedly a candidate for Injured Reserve, so the Cowboys will have to lean heavily on the former second-round pick, who has yet to draw more than nine targets in a game so far.
Pickens failed to prove that he could be a WR1 in Pittsburgh when the Steelers lost Diontae Johnson, and while plenty of that had to do with their subpar offense, he also looked immature, got into multiple scuffles, and wasn't as productive as expected.
George Pickens Needs to Step up
The Steelers' decision to give up on him stemmed from his character, and watching him throw a tantrum on the sidelines after a missed catch led to an interception in Week 3 was a bit of a red flag, considering his past.
Per Spotrac, he could be in the mix to get a four-year extension worth around $25 million a year. Still, he's been a talking point for his diva-like behavior and lack of accountability, and if that's the case when he's making under $4 million, history suggests that it will only get much worse once he gets a big-money contract.
Even so, he has yet to reach his prime, and he should have a lot of opportunities to prove that he can be as good as the eye test suggests. This will be a crucial stretch to determine not only his market value but whether he's worth all the trouble.