Steelers messed up with decision worse than signing Aaron Rodgers and it’s made Cowboys Super Bowl dark horse

The Dallas Cowboys can steal the NFC East from the Philadelphia Eagles.

Because they have the best No. 2 wide receiver in the league.

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For all the hate that Jerry Jones receives as owner/president/general manager of ‘America’s Team,’ the 83-year-old with a net worth of $21.7 billion sometimes gets something right.

How did Cowboys steal Pickens from Steelers?

Jones won big when he convinced the Pittsburgh Steelers to trade away George Pickens, and the Cowboys changed their 2025 season while only giving up a third-round pick.

“He’s just got to grow up, man,” said Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin, after Pickens again made it about himself in Pittsburgh last year.

“This is an emotional game, man. These divisional games are big. He’s 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 was a problem in Pittsburgh.

He clashed with fans, teammates and Tomlin, and was on the verge of wasting his talent.

But the Steelers also chose him in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft, and it was on Tomlin’s team to get the best out of its investment.

Seven months after a post-draft stunner, Pickens has replaced CeeDee Lamb as Dak Prescott‘s primary option and become the real No. 1 in Dallas.

The former Georgia Bulldog leads the Cowboys in targets (105), catches (73), receiving yards (1,142) and touchdowns (eight).

Even with Lamb’s occasional drops, Dallas has the best passing attack (271.3 yards per game) and second-best offense (29.3 points) in the league.

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Pittsburgh backed the wrong receiver

Tomlin was willing to move on from Pickens, while Pittsburgh wasn’t ready to give a huge contract to a frustrating underperformer who had a series of on-field incidents.

Pickens was penalized twice in one game for unsportsmanlike conduct, got into a scuffle with an opposing player, and jawed at his own fans.

But the Steelers chose poorly in choosing DK Metcalf (45 catches, 605 yards) over Pickens as the primary target for a 41-year-old Aaron Rodgers, who spent last week calling out his receivers for failing to attend film sessions and running the wrong routes.

Dallas has become one of the NFL’s hottest teams since falling to 3-5-1, and the Cowboys have united following the tragic death of teammate Marshawn Kneeland.

First-year head coach Brian Schottenheimer now leads a 6-5-1 team that has beaten the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs in back-to-back weeks, and can win its fourth consecutive game by taking down Jared Goff and the Lions in Detroit on Thursday Night Football.

If the Cowboys pry the NFC East from the drama-ridden Eagles, Super Bowl LX in San Francisco could follow.

Power ranking Super Bowl contenders

14. Detroit Lions (7-5)

The Lions face a loaded schedule to close the regular season.

It started with a nationally televised reunion vs the Packers on turkey day.

Detroit went 0-for-2 on fourth down and now needs big help in the NFC North.

talkSPORT ranks the best teams in the NFL

$150m contract could follow career year

Pickens is making an NFL steal in 2025, earning just $3.6 million while finishing out his four-year, $6.7m rookie contract.

That number could balloon to more than $150m if he continues as Dallas’ best receiver

If Prescott wins his first playoff game since 2022, the Cowboys will surely reward Pickens with a huge new contract.

“No, I do not at this time,” Jones said on 105.3 The Fan, when asked if he could envision Pickens playing for another team next year.

“We’ve got two No. 1 receivers and that’s just exceptional right at the time. … Our quarterback is probably the best that he’s ever been. There’s more there.”

The Cowboys saw what the Steelers missed.

Tomlin allowed personal problems to affect Pittsburgh’s business, despite overlooking all of the issues surrounding Rodgers before the veteran QB finally signed with the Steelers.

Pickens has been perfect for the Cowboys in 2025.

It’s no wonder that the Steelers are 6-6 and on the verge of giving up the AFC North, while ‘Fire Tomlin!’ chants are ringing out.

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