The Dallas Cowboys have made a notable trade this offseason, bringing in wide receiver George Pickens as part of a deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The NFC East team has refrained from making massive swings recently, but eased off the model following the draft as they were seemingly desperate to add to their wide receiver room.
According to Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports, Pickens was not their first option. Schultz reports that Dallas spoke to the Baltimore Ravens, discussing a potential move for Rashod Bateman before making a play for Pickens.
Sources: During their pursuit of a receiver, the #Cowboys also looked into a trade for #Ravens WR Rashod Bateman. Those talks didn’t go far, and Dallas ultimately struck a post-draft deal with the #Steelers for George Pickens.
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) May 9, 2025
Dallas’ search for another receiver was a… pic.twitter.com/87QX5rIqcq
He also suggested that the team had been working to sign a new pass catcher for several months.
“During their pursuit of a receiver, the #Cowboys also looked into a trade for #Ravens WR Rashod Bateman,” Schultz tweeted. “Those talks didn’t go far, and Dallas ultimately struck a post-draft deal with the #Steelers for George Pickens.”
“Dallas’ search for another receiver was a months-long process,” he added.
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Rashod Bateman Had His Best Scoring Season In 2024
The Cowboys parted ways with a 2026 third-round pick and a 2027 fifth-round pick to get Pickens and a 2027 sixth-round pick from Pittsburgh.
They have now presented Dak Prescott with another intriguing option alongside CeeDee Lamb, though it appears Rashod Bateman was the player they had their sights set on.
The Ravens wideout had a productive season in 2024, finishing second on the team in receiving yards with 756 and nine touchdowns, having scored no more than twice in previous seasons, while racking up the third-most receptions. He added two scores in the playoffs.
For his career, Rashod Bateman has totaled 138 catches for 1,923 yards and 13 touchdowns in four years with the Ravens, having missed most of the 2022 season with injury.
The former Big Ten Receiver of the Year has two years left on his current deal with Baltimore after they made him the 27th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.
