Cowboys could be getting a hungry George Pickens or a demoralized version

Usually, big NFL trades happen during free agency or around NFL Draft time. But this year, the Dallas Cowboys and Pittsburgh Steelers decided to change things up. Pittsburgh had been shopping wide receiver George Pickens around, but they didn't get any intriguing offers until Jerry Jones and the Cowboys came around.

The Cowboys didn't have to give up all that much, especially considering how talented, productive and Pickens is. But it's clear that the Steelers were done with him and wanted to move on. Their trade for DK Metcalf might have signaled that, and it all finally came to fruition this week. Although the Steelers thought the relationship was fully over, did Pickens feel the same way?

George Pickens was "loyal" to Mike Tomlin and didn't want to leave Pittsburgh

A report from ESPN's Jeremy Fowler has shed more light on Pickens' exit from the Steelers. Simply put, the wide receiver didn't want to leave Pittsburgh. The biggest reason for that? Mike Tomlin.

The issues in Pittsburgh were very clear. The maturity and ability, or lack thereof. He can go to Dallas and try to show that. From what I was told, he didn't want to leave Pittsburgh. He was loyal to Mike Tomlin, wanted to see it through.

Pickens has turned the chapter, but it sounds like he isn't where he wanted to be, at least for this season. There are two possibilities for how this plays out for the Cowboys: Either Pickens is hungry and motivated after being cast aside, or he won't respond well to playing for a head coach and team he didn't want to play for.

It's a risk that the Cowboys needed to take, in order to get their offense back to previous season levels. Pickens has already made some strong statements, claiming that he just wants to build a winning culture in Dallas. With Pickens being a free agent after this season, it's fair to wonder where he truly wants to be going forward in his NFL career.