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

George Pickens didn't put any pressure on the Pittsburgh Steelers to trade him before being dealt to the Dallas Cowboys on Wednesday. Speaking to reporters on Friday for the first time since the deal, Steelers general manager Omar Khan explained that Pickens never requested a trade.

Khan specifically mentioned that he feels good about having DK Metcalf (who was acquired via trade earlier this offseason in a move that seemingly heralded Pickens' departure), Calvin Austin III and Roman Wilson, via the team's official website .