It seems some of George Pickens’ now-former Steelers teammates couldn’t wait to say “good riddance.”
Days after Pittsburgh traded the mercurial wide receiver to the Cowboys, Steelers beat reporter Mark Kaboly alleged Monday that “significant locker room guys got fed up with Pickens’ antics” and feared toxicity could spread.
“Some felt that it would be counterproductive to keep him around, even with his unique talent,” Kaboly posted in a lengthy message on X. “They felt the locker room could turn toxic.”
A second-round pick out of Georgia in 2022, Pickens found himself at the center of controversy last season because of his behavior, whether arriving late to contests or drawing unsportsmanlike conduct penalties during crucial games.
Head coach Mike Tomlin implored the 24-year-old Pickens to “grow up” after being flagged in a December game against the Bengals.
Pickens’ future in Pittsburgh became a prominent storyline this offseason, with eagle-eyed fans pointing out this spring how he stopped following the team on social media.
Even when the Steelers reportedly put Pickens on the trading block last month during the 2025 NFL Draft, some opposing teams “laughed at the idea of inviting Pickens into their locker room for any price, let alone a second-day draft pick,” according to The Athletic.
That lack of enthusiasm around Pickens aligns with Kaboly’s reporting, who noted Monday, “Not many teams were interested in trading for Pickens, making it difficult for the Steelers to get market value,” and how the club “wouldn’t have traded him for anything less than a 3rd-round pick — something that wasn’t offered until after the draft.”
That allowed Dallas to pick up a shiny new toy for quarterback Dak Prescott last week for the price of a 2026 third-round pick and a 2027 fifth-rounder. The Steelers also shipped a 2027 sixth-rounder to the Cowboys as part of the deal.
Although Pickens has embraced his new surroundings — “I like the mojo here. I like the swag,” — drama has followed.
On Sunday, Pickens denied ripping the Steelers after purported screenshots seemingly showed he did just the opposite.
“Stop with the AI trying to make a story,” Pickens wrote in an Instagram Story. “I’m happy for everything that the steel city did for me.”
Pickens will make his regular-season debut with his new team on Thursday, Sept. 4, when the Cowboys open the season against the reigning Super Bowl champion Eagles.