For the Cowboys, the 2025 offseason began with some gaping holes on the roster. Some–perhaps many–were only marginally filled, and some major question marks about this team remain. Why, for example, are they insisting on again playing the long game with one of their top stars, failing to move quickly on an extension for Micah Parsons, as they did with CeeDee Lamb and Dak Prescott (to their detriment) before him?
But they addressed the one area fans had been clamoring for them to upgrade for years now. At long last, the Cowboys brought in a legitimate No. 2 receiver to pair with Lamb, a guy who can make teams pay for focusing too heavily on the star WR1. The Cowboys brought in George Pickens.
The problem with Pickens is that there is a reason the Steelers wanted to get rid of him in the first place. He can be unreliable. He can be hot-tempered. And in the end, Pickens wore through the patience of coach Mike Tomlin.
Dak Prescott: George Pickens ‘Has Been Phenomenal’
So now that he is in Dallas, in a contract year, and expected to play second fiddle to Lamb, what’s to say Pickens won’t be as much an issue for Brian Schottenheimer as he was for Tomlin? Well, nothing. But the guy who probably matters most in determining Pickens’ success level in Dallas–quarterback Dak Prescott–is brushing all of that off.
Prescott is willing to give Pickens a clean slate. As far has can see at Cowboys minicamp, Pickens has been a happy and productive player.
“I think that’s why you should never really listen to what somebody else says about somebody,” Prescott said. “I think you should find out for yourself who they are and allow them to reveal their character to you.
“The guy’s been great. He’s been phenomenal. It’s a guy that loves football, loves his teammates, and he’s been excited every day that he’s been here. He’s been early, too, so no concerns on the personal matters of GP or anything about it. I’m just super excited that he’s on our team. He’s one of us, and he’s our brother, and he’s all about continuing to grow and making sure he’s putting the best out there, and that’s his approach.”
Cowboys Could Be Explosive
Indeed, that’s been the consensus on Pickens in Cowboys camp thus far. It’s easy for everyone to be happy in June, of course, and we’ll see what happens when training camp gets rolling. More important, we’ll see what happens in September when the year starts and Pickens must balance his production vs. that of Lamb.
But if Pickens is happy and productive, look out. This is a guy who compiled 2,841 yards in three seasons in Pittsburgh, over 48 games, a guy who can stretch the field and averages 16.3 yards per catch in his career. (Lamb averaged 12.8.)
“He comes to work every day with a smile on his face,” Schottenheimer said. “He’s very personal when you get to know him. I love being around him. I love talking to him about life. I love shooting baskets against him. I love just watching him. … He’s been amazing. He was the last guy to leave the practice field today. I think that speaks volumes of the fact that he’s excited about what we’re building. I’m a big GP fan.”
