The Steelers continued their offseason of chaos on Wednesday morning, agreeing to send star wide receiver George Pickens to the Cowboys in exchange for a trio of draft picks.
At his best, Pickens was one of the better pass-catchers in the league, blending a fiery persona with strong ball skills to produce solid production since his 2022 debut. He was tipped with forming an enticing tandem with recently-acquired DK Metcalf.
He was as capricious as he was productive. But his absence looms large on Pittsburgh’s WR room — a unit that looks far less imposing than it did earlier in the offseason.
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There’s another shadowy figure looming in the distance who could suffer an aftershock as a result of Pickens’ exit: Aaron Rodgers.
The 41-year old isn’t on an NFL roster. But he’s seen as one of the more viable options for Pittsburgh’s QB vacancy in 2025.
So, how does Pickens’ departure impact the Steelers’ chances at bringing in Rodgers? Here’s what you need to know.
MORE: Trade grades for George Pickens deal sending WR to Cowboys
Has Aaron Rodgers signed with the Steelers?
Rodgers hasn’t yet put pen to paper with any side. He’s been linked with a host of franchises, including the Giants, Vikings and, most notably, the Steelers. But that hasn’t landed him a gig for the 2025 season. At least not yet.
During a wide-ranging interview with Pat McAfee, Rodgers revealed that he’s “had a lot of great conversations with a lot of teams” throughout the 2025 offseason. He also explained that he’s willing to play for a relative pittance — whereas he was projected to receive upwards of $15-$20 million to suit up in 2025, Rodgers said he was willing to play for as little as $10 million average annual value.
In theory, such a price tag would make him an attractive prospect for a host of sides, including Pittsburgh. Nevertheless, he remains unattached for now, although head coach Mike Tomlin recently walked back earlier comments suggesting that the start of training camp was effectively a “line of demarcation” for a Rodgers decision.
“To be quite honest with you, I don’t know that I meant that specifically for him or the circumstance,” Tomlin said, per Sports Illustrated. “I’m just saying, in general, when you report to training camp, it’s a line of demarcation of development of a group, individually and collectively.”
MORE: Cowboys wide receiver depth chart after addition of George Pickens
What George Pickens trade means for Aaron Rodgers
According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Gerry Dulac, Pickens’ departure holds “no bearing or impact” on Rodgers’ potential arrival.
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Ray Fittipaldo expressed similar sentiments during an appearance on 93.7 The Fan’s Morning Show on Wednesday morning.
“I think this decision to trade George Pickens is totally separate from what happens with Aaron Rodgers,” Fittipaldo said, per Steelers Depot. “But if you do want to project out and think about how would Aaron Rodgers mesh with someday like George Pickens, I don’t think it would be good. I can’t sit here and name you a quarterback who would mesh well with a receiver who doesn’t run his routes properly, who doesn’t attend meetings [and] is late.”
MORE: Steelers wide receiver depth chart after sending George Pickens to Dallas
Pickens and his employer’s relationship was fraught for a good while, with the mercurial pass-catcher blowing hot and cold during his three-year tenure in the Steel City. The 24-year old produced throughout his time with Pittsburgh, tallying nearly 3,000 yards since being selected in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft.
But his contentious on-field demeanor, coupled with an expiring contract, made him surplus for requirements with Tomlin’s side.
All of that has little to do with Rodgers. Still, if he does decide to join the Steelers in 2025, he’ll do so knowing that the wide receiver room, once marked by the tantalizing prospect of Pickens and Metcalf, now is a little more barren.
Rodgers and Metcalf have been seen working out with one another throughout the offseason. Such a clip raises confidence that the two could strike a devastating partnership during the regular season.
But it’ll take time. And at present, Pittsburgh’s pass-catching core is less than ideal. Whether Rodgers is able to make something out of that remains to be seen.
MORE: How George Pickens trade impacts Cowboys’ salary cap situation
Steelers cap space 2025
Following Pickens’ departure, Pittsburgh has $34,964,600 in its 2025 kitty. That’s more than enough to secure Rodgers’ services — especially if the Steelers are clever with their accounting. They could ostensibly add another pass-catching talent to their corps, too, though current free agent options are a bit underwhelming save for a few names.
Steelers draft picks 2026
The Cowboys parted ways with three future draft selections to land Pickens, including a 2026 third-round pick.
Here’s a look at how Pittsburgh’s draft selections shake out in 2026.
| Round |
| 1 |
| 2 |
| 3 (from Cowboys) |
| 3 (compensatory) |
| 4 |
| 4 (compensatory) |
| 5 |
| 5 (compensatory) |
| 6 |
| 6 (compensatory) |
| 7 |
It’ll be interesting to see if the Steelers add to their draft capital in the coming few months — or perhaps package some of their assortment of picks to make another splash in the trade market.
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