FRISCO — The cries for a No. 2 receiver will be heard no longer after the Dallas Cowboys made their most aggressive move in years. Dallas has traded for George Pickens, adding a polarizing yet talented piece to their passing game.
Coming out of free agency and heading into the NFL Draft, the wide receiver position was one of heavy interest for the team. Most mock projections had the team taking a receiver in the first round.
Instead, the Cowboys went the entire draft without picking one. But they had this move up their sleeve and have now added another element to their offense.
The reviews are pouring in, some focusing on Pickens' behavior concerns while others label Pickens and CeeDee Lamb the league's next great pass-catching duo.
Former Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett happens to be a major proponent of the trade, believing they have the pieces around the locker room, namely quarterback Dak Prescott, to pull this fit off.
"I think it's a great trade for Dallas," Garrett said. "If you look at their team, I think they got a lot of good weapons. And for me, the whole thing works because of the quarterback. Dak can work with everybody. He'll bring the best out of anybody."
That is a major fundamental belief that this trade hinges on. Prescott has shined in most years but has not gotten the Cowboys over the hump in the postseason.
Last season hardly gave the quarterback a fair shake with a lackluster roster coming into the campaign along with an injury that cut his year short.
Now, he not only has one, but two of the league's most talented receivers. Dallas will need him to deliver. As Garrett mentions, there is plenty of reason to believe that Prescott will rise to the occasion.
He made a strong MVP case just two seasons ago. Assuming he starts the year fully recovered, the insertion of a receiver who posted no fewer than 800 yards with subpar quarterback play should only benefit the quarterback.
Pickens and the Cowboys must work together personally and stylistically to optimize this partnership. With Prescott, that process may go over more smooth than many would presume.
