PITTSBURGH — Steelers general manager Omar Khan doesn't make it a habit of discussing every move and every transaction throughout the offseason. His usual checkpoints are the NFL combine, league owners meetings and the draft, followed by a moratorium until the start of training camp.

But George Pickens is different. And Friday, after the team wrapped up its first session of rookie minicamp, Khan took a different tack by having an unplanned interview to explain the Steelers dealing Pickens to Dallas for a 2026 third-round pick and a 2027 swap of fifth- and sixth-rounders.

"I wouldn't use the word disappointment," Khan said of Pickens and his Pittsburgh tenure. "We had three years with George. We had some exciting times. It was just time. The fresh start for both sides was the right thing."

That's what Khan kept coming back to, particularly when asked what changed between mid-March — when coach Mike Tomlin raved about the potential of DK Metcalf and Pickens wreaking schematic havoc on opposing defenses — and now. Khan admitted the Steelers fielded some offers on Pickens during the draft but none that moved the meter enough.

The Steelers "had conversations internally" and with David Mulugheta, Pickens' agent, Khan said. While Khan claimed he was never informed of a formal trade request by Pickens or his representation, he did allow that for players entering the last year of their contract, he doesn't know "where that would've gone" with regard to training camp participation or lack thereof.

"We had a team that called and gave us something worth thinking about," Khan said. "We had the conversations. ... It just made sense that a fresh start was a good idea."

Call it deja vu from this time a year ago when the Steelers were working through the aftermath of trading Diontae Johnson to Carolina, but Khan insisted the organization is confident in its receiving corps. Beyond Metcalf, they have Calvin Austin III, Roman Wilson, recent free-agent addition Robert Woods and veterans Ben Skowronek, Scotty Miller and Brandon Johnson competing for roles. A couple of undrafted rookies, Roc Taylor and Ke'Shawn Williams, are the only other new faces from the outside.

The Brandon Aiyuk saga has come and gone, and it's hard to imagine anyone signing up for another ordeal like that this summer. But the equation hasn't changed much. It's just that the No. 1 receiver has, and the franchise is banking on 2020 All-Pro Metcalf being a more reliable, professional and dynamic leading actor.

"We wouldn't have done this if we didn't feel good about the receiver situation, about our depth here," Khan said. "I know people make the comparison about last year. It's not even close to being the same."

And if the development they're banking on doesn't occur — or doesn't occur quickly enough — Khan did add he'll look into adding another playmaker if needed. There are always good players out there, as he views it.

Pickens still can be a good player. He may be exactly that for the Cowboys. Whether he'll be a good presence in the locker room and throughout the building remains to be seen. Any way you slice it, the Steelers yet again find themselves moving on from a problematic receiver who had the talent to help them but the temperament to force their hand.

"Some of that's just really coincidence how it's played out with the position," Khan said. "I mean, we're always trying to get good players, regardless of what position it's at and at any point in the year. ... We want to get good players, good people, and we're chasing a championship. Every decision we make is based on trying to win a championship, not only in the future but this year."

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