Steelers Now
The Pittsburgh Steelers have finalized a trade of star wide receiver George Pickens to the Dallas Cowboys. The Steelers get the Cowboys third-round pick in 2026 and fifth-round pick in 2027, and send their 2026 sixth-rounder along with Pickens.
The Steelers’ wide receivers room now includes DK Metcalf, Calvin Austin III, Robert Woods, Ben Skowronek, Lance McCutcheon and Roc Taylor. To say the least, the Steelers’ current crop of wide receivers leaves a lot to be desired. And, with it being May 7, the Steelers’ options for Pickens’ replacement are limited. But there are a few solid options out there.
Some free agent wide receivers who are still on the market include: Amari Cooper, Keenan Allen, Nelson Agholor, Odell Beckham Jr., D.J. Chark and Tyler Boyd. The Jacksonville Jaguars also released Gabe Davis on Wednesday morning.
Allen, 33, caught 70 passes for 744 yards (10.6 average) and seven touchdowns last season for the Chicago Bears. In 2023 with the Los Angeles Chargers, he hauled in 108 receptions for 1,243 yards (11.5 average) and seven touchdowns. Allen is up there in age, but he has showed no signs of slowing down. The Steelers also signed 33-year-old wide receiver Robert Woods, so adding another savvy veteran shouldn’t be an issue.
Cooper, who was traded by the Cleveland Browns to the Buffalo Bills in mid-October, had 20 receptions for 297 yards and two touchdowns in eight games with Buffalo. Overall, he had 44 receptions for 547 yards (12.4 average) and four touchdowns during the 2024 season.
Boyd, 30, had a down year with the Tennessee Titans last season, recording 39 receptions for 390 yards (10.0 average) and zero touchdowns. Mike Tomlin is familiar with Boyd since he’s a Clairton and Pitt product, but it appears his best days are behind him.
On the free agency front, Allen, Cooper and Davis are the Steelers best options to replace Pickens’ production. Of course, they can also go the trade route. Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk thinks Pittsburgh could seriously consider trading for New York Jets wide receiver Allen Lazard, especially if Aaron Rodgers signs with the team.
“Per a source with knowledge of the situation, Jets receiver Allen Lazard is ‘in play’ to be traded to the Steelers,” Florio wrote. “Why Lazard? Because Rodgers completely and totally trusts him. And Lazard, for whatever reason, performs much better with Rodgers than he does without him.”
Pittsburgh now raids the Rodgers-approved overage of Green Bay’s receiving room after the Packers double dipped the position in the draft
Conor Orr and Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated noted that the Steelers could raid the Rodgers-approved overage of Green Bay’s receiving room after the Packers double dipped the position in the draft. Breer said Rodgers was very fond of Romeo Doubs when they were together.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Free Agent WRs Who Could Replace George Pickens
