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DALLAS —\u00a0George Pickens, newly minted Dallas Cowboys wide receiver, unleashed a scathing critique of Mike Tomlin after his trade from the Pittsburgh Steelers, sources told ESPN on May 7, 2025. The blockbuster deal, which sent Pickens to Dallas for a 2026 third-round pick and a late-round pick swap, has ignited a firestorm.<\/p>\n
Pickens, 24, didn\u2019t hold back in a podcast appearance, slamming Tomlin\u2019s leadership. \u201cMike talks a big game, but where\u2019s the action?\u201d he said. \u201cOmar [Khan] and him sat on their hands all offseason. Same old Steelers\u2014no WR2, no QB1, just vibes.\u201d His comments echo frustrations from his 2024 season, where he amassed 900 yards despite quarterback instability.<\/p>\n
The Steelers\u2019 offense, ranked 24th in passing (186.1 yards per game) in 2024, remains hamstrung. With Mason Rudolph as the interim QB1 and rookie Will Howard unready, Pittsburgh\u2019s pursuit of Aaron Rodgers is uncertain. Pickens\u2019 exit, following Najee Harris and Russell Wilson, leaves DK Metcalf as the lone star.<\/p>\n
Pickens criticized the lack of a true WR2. \u201cIt\u2019s me or nothing,\u201d he said. \u201cCalvin [Austin III] and Van [Jefferson] aren\u2019t scaring anyone.\u201d The Steelers\u2019 failure to land targets like Brandon Aiyuk or Davante Adams in 2024, coupled with Roman Wilson\u2019s injury-plagued rookie year, fueled his discontent.<\/p>\n
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In Dallas, Pickens joins CeeDee Lamb, giving Dak Prescott a dynamic duo. His 18.1 yards per catch in 2023 and contested-catch prowess make him a perfect No. 2. \u201cDak\u2019s a real QB1,\u201d Pickens said. \u201cI\u2019m finally with a team that plans to win.\u201d He\u2019s due $3.65 million in his final rookie year.<\/p>\n
Tomlin, addressing the remarks, remained stoic. \u201cGeorge is talented, but we\u2019re focused on our guys,\u201d he told reporters. Khan defended the offseason, citing signings like Za\u2019Darius Smith and Mike Hilton, but fans on X are livid, posting, \u201cPickens is right\u2014Tomlin\u2019s lost the plot!\u201d and \u201cNo QB, no WR2, same mess.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Steelers\u2019 receiving corps, now led by Metcalf, Austin III, and Wilson, lacks depth. Dino Tomlin, Mike\u2019s son and a UDFA signee, adds a sentimental story but little immediate impact. Pittsburgh\u2019s 2024 woes\u2014five straight losses\u2014persist without a clear offensive identity.<\/p>\n
As Pickens gears up for a prove-it year in Dallas, his departure exposes Pittsburgh\u2019s stagnation. With the AFC North heating up, the Steelers\u2019 failure to address QB1 and WR2 could haunt Tomlin and Khan, proving Pickens\u2019 harsh words painfully prophetic.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
DALLAS —\u00a0George Pickens, newly minted Dallas Cowboys wide receiver, unleashed a scathing critique of Mike Tomlin after his trade from the Pittsburgh Steelers, sources told ESPN on… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":46873,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-46872","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nfl"],"yoast_head":"\n