The Dallas Cowboys' decision to trade for Steelers wide receiver George Pickens obviously did not come without risk, but there is a reason it was universally celebrated by fans. Pickens has WR1 potential and he seems completely bought in at training camp.
CeeDee Lamb and Pickens have been getting along like brothers thus far, ensuring fans that strong chemistry has already been building. Lamb may leaked the script earlier this week in Oxnard, saying that he hopes he's teammates with Pickens for not just one year.
While it's still early, Pickens already looks vindicated for wanting out of Pittsburgh. New quarterback Aaron Rodgers is already frustrating tight end Pat Freiermuth, who was wide open, threw his hands up in dismay when Rodgers targeted D.K. Metcalf on an underneath route.
Pickens would've been more frustrated than ever.
Aaron Rodgers is already proving Cowboys WR George Pickens right for wanting out of Pittsburgh
Freiermuth's reaction suggests Rodgers has been force-feeding Metcalf. That is nothing new from Rodgers, who isolated Jets star wide receiver Garrett Wilson last season because of his rapport with longtime teammate Davante Adams even though Wilson is the better player at this stage of their careers.
Heath Miller, Jesse James and Freiermuth have been fan tight end favorites for the Steelers for decades. Fans in Pittsburgh won't be happy to see their starting TE acting out, especially against one of the greatest quarterbacks of all-time, and it just proves why Pickens made the right choice getting out of Pittsburgh ASAP.
Pickens is an ultra-talented receiver who can make tough catches along the sideline or deep in stride. Pro Football Focus has recognized Pickens as a top deep threat in the NFL, and this should put Cowboys fans on the edge of their seat when they see Prescott throwing bombs to Pickens every weekend.
Even though Pickens has his own history of on-field tirades, there's nothing to indicate that he's been unhappy so far. It might not take long for him to start an individual rivalry with a cornerback whenever tensions begin to boil over.
Regardless, the early indicators from training camp are that Pickens is a thousand times happer with the Cowboys than he ever was in a Steelers uniform.