The Steelers nearly held onto George Pickens as the Cowboys first looked into acquiring a different AFC North receiver.

The Dallas Cowboys explored a trade for Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman before ultimately acquiring Pittsburgh's George Pickens, according to Fox Sports' Jordan Schultz. Their search for a receiver to pair with CeeDee Lamb was a “months-long process,” per Schultz.

The George Pickens trade almost never happened because the Dallas Cowboys were in talks with the Baltimore Ravens to land wide receiver Rashod Bateman.