Earlier this week, the Pittsburgh Steelers sent wide receiver George Pickens to the Dallas Cowboys in exchange for a third-round draft pick and a swap of Day 3 picks. The deal came after a three-year run where Pickens was at times productive but also at times frustrating for the Steelers.

George Pickens didn't put any pressure on the Pittsburgh Steelers to trade him before being dealt to the Dallas Cowboys on Wednesday. Speaking to reporters on Friday for the first time since the deal, Steelers general manager Omar Khan explained that Pickens never requested a trade.

The Pittsburgh Steelers made a major offseason trade to acquire star wide receiver DK Metcalf from the Seattle Seahawks. Following that move, they were expected to have one of the most lethal wide receiver duos in the NFL with Metcalf and George Pickens.