If this is the case and the Steelers were dead set on trading Pickens away, it does force us to re-visit the draft and see where, if anywhere Pittsburgh could have addressed wide receiver on the presumption that Pickens would eventually be gone.

On Wednesday, the Steelers sent the 24-year-old Pickens to the Cowboys in exchange for a 2026 third-round draft pick and a 2027 sixth-rounder. Acquiring DK Metcalf then trading Pickens for such a low price suggests the mercurial wideout had worn out his three-year welcome with Mike Tomlin and company.

The Steelers ended up trading Pickens to Dallas for future draft compensation. Pittsburgh regains some draft capital to try again at fixing its wide receiver room in a future draft. As for Dallas, the Cowboys get the perfect No.