On Wednesday morning, after rumors had percolated for awhile, the Pittsburgh Steelers traded wide receiver George Pickens and a 2027 sixth-round pick to the Dallas Cowboys for a 2026 third-round pick and 2027 fifth-round pick.
A third-round pick next year lands as a reasonable cost to acquire a receiver of Pickens' talent level, with untapped upside (i.e. having a better quarterback) at 24 years old. So there will be teams that possibly wish they'd been more involved in the Pickens' trade chatter, and Lou Scataglia of NFL Spin Zone listed the Buffalo Bills, the Denver Broncos as three teams who will regret "big-time" not trading for Pickens.
The Bills definitely make sense, since they lack high-end talent at wide receiver for Josh Allen. The Broncos, with quarterback Bo Nix on a rookie contract and a lack of proven commodities at wide receiver, make a lot of sense too.
But at the Lions, Scataglia lost the plot.
"It seems like the Detroit Lions are prepared to trade Jameson Williams, and they did draft a WR in Isaac TeSlaa in the 2025 NFL Draft. Even with how good the Lions offense is, they have had a need for another WR for multiple seasons now. If they are still prepared to part with Jameson Williams, you have to wonder if a potential package with Williams heading to Pittsburgh and Pickens heading to Detroit would have satisfied the Lions and Steelers each."
"The Lions top WR is Amon-Ra St. Brown, but the clear no. 2 target at the position is not obvious."
Lions can't regret not making a trade they never entertained
Before the draft, there was some credible evidence the Lions could trade Jameson Williams if a viable offer came. The edition of Isaac TeSlaa in the draft does not tip that idea in any direction, but in the wake of the Pickens trade the Lions are clearly keeping Williams around this offseason.
The idea the Lions could have sent Williams to Pittsburgh as part of a trade package for Pickens is not outlandish, but it forgets the most important aspect from Detroit's end.
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Williams' first three seasons have not been without hiccups, but he has clearly bought into the culture created by head coach Dan Campbell. In the wide receiver room, "no block, no rock" is the general philosophy, and Williams often shows up noticeably as a blocker.
Pickens casually forced his way out of Pittsburgh over time, with antics on the field, social media unfollowing, etc. After the Steelers' trade to acquire DK Metcalf, and the decision to pay him, the writing was on the wall.
From a talent perspective, the difference between Pickens and Williams can be debated. But Pickens' personality (and push for his next contract, since he's in a contract year) would be like oil in the water of Campbell's locker room.
The Lions cannot regret a trade acquisition that was never on their radar, and it's fair to assume Pickens' availability didn't register one bit in Allen Park.