George Pickens has been traded from the Pittsburgh Steelers to the Dallas Cowboys, and former Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin has provided insights into the reasoning behind this decision. During an appearance on The Rich Eisen Show, Tomlin emphasized that the trade was influenced more by Pickens' personal development than by his on-field talent.
Tomlin acknowledged that Pickens has the potential to be a standout player but raised concerns about his growth in areas beyond just performance. He stated, "For us, I just thought, it's not only play. It's development in other areas, intangible areas."
These intangible qualities were significant for the Steelers when considering Pickens' future, especially regarding the responsibilities that accompany a lucrative second contract. Tomlin noted that such contracts require more than just statistical production.
ESPN insider Dan Graziano also highlighted the lack of interest from other teams in signing Pickens to an offer sheet when the Cowboys utilized the non-exclusive franchise tag on him. This has led some to speculate that teams are waiting to see if Pickens can mature into a leader.
