Steelers Mike Tomlin Made Final Decision To Ax George Pickens – Mike Fisher, Athlon Sports

Mike Tomlin reportedly drove the decision to trade Pickens.

A new report from longtime Steelers writer and Pat McAfee Show contributor Mark Kaboly claims that none other than head coach Mike Tomlin […] wanted the talented-but-temperamental player out of town.

“Make no mistake about it, Tomlin — who has gone out of his way in the past to defend Pickens — is the one who decided that the Pickens rehabilitation project needed to end a year early,” Kaboly writes. “The ultimate decision had very little to do with general manager Omar Khan (although he signed off on it, too), and of course it was OK’d by team owner Art Rooney II.”

Said Tomlin about Pickens late last year, “He’s just got to grow up, man. This is an emotional game. He’s got a target on his back because he’s George; he understands that. But he’s got to grow up. He’s got to grow up in a hurry.”

George Pickens trade grades: Cowboys best Steelers in landing star wideout – Jordan Dajani, CBSSports

It’s pretty clear for CBSSports who came out on top in this trade.

Cowboys: A-

At 6-foot-3, 200 pounds, Pickens is a legitimate perimeter threat that should have Dak Prescott giddy. He will open up things for Lamb, and vice versa. On paper, the Cowboys just created one of the best wide receiver duos in the league. After last year’s incredibly disappointing offseason and the forgettable 2024 campaign that followed, these are the kinds of moves that Cowboys fans want to see from Jerry Jones.

As for the cons, Pickens has struggled to hold his emotions in check and cost his team yards with penalties, plus he has just one more year remaining on his rookie deal. The Cowboys would be losers in this trade if the 2025 season were to be a failure and Pickens left in free agency. However, this is the kind of swing I like to see from a team that wants to win football games.

Steelers: B-

The Steelers did trade for and extend DK Metcalf this offseason, so parting ways with Pickens is not the biggest surprise in the world. But if you were to go back in time and tell yourself that the Steelers would be trading Pickens away for a third-round pick, you would be pretty disappointed.

Ranking top NFL pass-catching groups: Cowboys stand out after George Pickens trade – Bucky Brooks, NFL.com

The Cowboys just crack Brooks’ Top 8.

8. Dallas Cowboys

The blockbuster trade that brought George Pickens from Pittsburgh to Dallas has thrust the Cowboys into the conversation as one of the most dangerous pass-catching groups heading into 2025. Pickens gives Brian Schottenheimer’s offense a much-needed complement to four-time Pro Bowler CeeDee Lamb, who has carried the passing game over the last four seasons with at least 1,100 yards in each campaign. Pickens should help alleviate the burden on Lamb, while giving Dak Prescott the deep threat needed to punish the defense for tilting the coverage in No. 88’s direction. Moreover, Pickens’ arrival will likely force opponents to utilize more two-deep coverages, leading to increased opportunities for TE Jake Ferguson to make plays between the hashes. Given Pickens’ success when having free access to roam downfield, the former Steeler has a chance to help the offense maximize its potential with Prescott surrounded by high-end playmakers on the perimeter.

Do the Cowboys need more big boys up the middle?

DALLAS COWBOYS: INTERIOR DEFENSIVE LINE

Mazi Smith and Osa Odighizuwa are once again the Cowboys‘ starting defensive tackles after struggling in run defense last year with 35.9 and 50.8 PFF run-defense grades, respectively. Dallas added Solomon Thomas, but he earned just a 41.5 PFF run-defense grade with the Jets last season. That position group in run defense is a big area of concern for 2025.

Dallas Cowboys signed nine undrafted free agents. Which ones will make the roster? – Nick Harris, Star-Telegram

If you’ve been wondering which college free agent was left at the very top of the Cowboys draft board after the draft, Harris spills the beans.

Alijah Clark, Safety, Syracuse

Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones said in the team’s post-draft press conference that the team had signed its highest-graded undrafted player. That player was Alijah Clark.

Clark, who played as a downhill safety for the Orange after transferring from Rutgers earlier in his college career, combined for 181 tackles in his final three seasons. He became a bit more active in the pass game in 2024 with his only career interception and five pass deflections.

The Cowboys signed Clark to the seventh-richest undrafted contract around the league with $234,000 in guaranteed money to go along with a $25,000 signing bonus.

Jerry Jones may have tipped New York Giants-Dallas Cowboys in Week 1 – Serena Burks, Giants Wire

Some schedule speculation.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones was speaking to his rookies at minicamp last week and appeared to let it slip that the two teams will face off in Week 1.

“We need you to be smart and come in here and dig and go for it and get it out so we can line up against the Giants Week…” Jones said. “Can you do that?”

Jones trailed off as if he caught himself before saying Week 1, but the implication is there.

You be the judge whether this has any merit – at the 0:50 mark.

Depth Chart: Tylers & Coopers atop the interior O-line – Nick Eatman, DallasCowboys.com

A look at the guard and centers on the offensive line.

Over the next few weeks, we’ll take a closer look at where things stand at each position. The Cowboys won’t release a depth chart until the first preseason game in August, so the following order of players is simply a projection, which of course, is always subject to change. Let’s start the series with the guards and center position:

Tyler Smith (G)

Cooper Beebe (C)

Tyler Booker (G)

Brock Hoffman (G/C)

Rob Jones (G)

J. Bass (G)

Saahdiq Charles (G)

Hakeem Adeniji (G/T)

Dakoda Shepley (G/C)

Nate Thomas (G/C)

Battle to Watch: From a starting standpoint, everything seems to be solidified at this point, although the coaching staff would probably beg to differ, citing the importance of competition with all players. But the drafting of Tyler Booker suggests he will start at right guard. Cooper Beebe seems to be the leader at center and we know Tyler Smith will be the left guard, seeing that he’s one of the best guards in all of the NFL. As far as a battle, everything behind them should be interesting. Rob Smith (30), Saahdiq Charles (18) and Hakeem Adeniji (15) have 63 combined starts so that’s plenty of experience in terms of depth and won’t give up a spot without a fight.

Is Jack Sanborn a star in the making for the Dallas Cowboys? – Mark Heaney, Inside the Star

Have the Cowboys found an another gem with this linebacker acquisition?

Jack Sanborn: Dallas’ Breakout Candidate

To understand why this former undrafted linebacker could have such a big impact, you first have to understand the player. Jack Sanborn is a Midwest kid through and through; he was born in Illinois, played his college ball in Wisconsin’s red and white, and returned to his home state for a three-year stint with the Bears.

In his rookie season, as, once again, an undrafted free agent, Sanborn put 64 total tackles on the board in just six starts. That’s not normal for any rookie, let alone an undrafted one. As the years progressed in Chicago, with Eberflus molding him, Sanborn became a centerpiece for the Bears’ defense.

By the end of the 2024 season, he had compiled 48 games with the Bears, 4.5 sacks, 164 total tackles, and 14 tackles for loss. His playing time was cut down some last year, but his production stayed relatively the same. He is sneaky athletic, smart, and has the instincts of an All-Pro linebacker.