Steelers GM: Pickens trade 'made sense for everyone'

Pittsburgh Steelers general manager Omar Khan publicly addressed the George Pickens trade for the first time Friday, saying it was the "right thing" for both sides.

Khan said that dealing the wide receiver to the Dallas Cowboys "made sense for everyone," according to ESPN's Brooke Pryor.

"We just kind of talked about it, lots of serious conversation, honest conversations," Khan added. "And we just felt that a fresh start for both sides was the right thing."

The Steelers dealt Pickens, who's entering the last year of his rookie contract, to the Cowboys on Wednesday as part of a trade that sent a third-round pick back to Pittsburgh.

The 24-year-old's contract situation, combined with the Steelers' trade for two-time Pro Bowl receiver DK Metcalf, made Pickens a strong trade candidate. Pittsburgh signed Metcalf to a five-year extension after acquiring him in a March trade from the Seattle Seahawks.

"We had some people inquire during the draft, nothing that really made sense," Khan said about the Pickens trade. "The Cowboys reached out earlier this week, and they proposed something for us to think about."

Pickens spent his first three NFL seasons with the Steelers, who drafted him in the second round in 2022. The Georgia product topped 1,000 receiving yards for the first time in 2023 before catching 59 passes for 900 yards and three touchdowns in 14 games during the 2024 campaign.

Khan said he doesn't describe Pickens' time with the franchise as a disappointment.

"We had three years with George, and you know we had some exciting times, but it's just time for the fresh start," the GM added.

Pickens spoke as a Dallas player for the first time Thursday and said "business" led to his departure from Pittsburgh.