George Pickens' tenure with the Pittsburgh Steelers concluded with his trade to the Dallas Cowboys, a move that former Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin attributes to concerns over the receiver's personal development rather than his on-field talent.
In an appearance on The Rich Eisen Show, Tomlin provided insights into why Pickens was not included in Pittsburgh's long-term plans. He acknowledged Pickens' significant talent but emphasized the importance of intangible qualities in a player's overall development.
Tomlin stated, "For us, I just thought, it's not only play. It's development in other areas, intangible areas." These intangible aspects became crucial when the Steelers evaluated Pickens for a potential lucrative second contract, which comes with added responsibilities beyond just performance statistics.
Additionally, ESPN insider Dan Graziano raised a question about why no other team pursued Pickens with an offer sheet after Dallas applied a non-exclusive franchise tag on him. Many believe that teams were waiting to see if Pickens could mature into a leader.
