If everything goes as good as it possibly could for the Dallas Cowboys in 2025, it probably means wide receiver George Pickens is on another team in 2026.
That’s not necessarily a bad thing.
In the scenario in which Pickens ends up on another team one year from now — the good scenario — it’s because he upped his play to such a level that he showed he can be a team’s clear WR1 option.
That would likely put him out of the Cowboys price range. Dallas already has the NFL’s No. 2 highest paid wide receiver in perennial NFL All-Pro CeeDee Lamb, who signed a 4-year, $136 million contract extension in August 2024.
Until Pickens can show he’s elite, we might be in for quite a treat watching the Cowboys this season after they traded with the Pittsburgh Steelers for Pickens on May 7.
“George Pickens and CeeDee Lamb on the field at the same time is a nightmare,” ESPN’s Mina Kimes said on a recent episode of The Mina Kimes Show.
“It really is,” said Kimes’ guest and former NFL offensive lineman and Super Bowl champion Marshall Newhouse. “I know everybody’s ‘Oh yeah, if you get good George Pickens’ ok, sure. But if you’re a defense, you’re anticipating it’s the George Pickens who consistently wins down the sideline, and now you have to deal with him and CeeDee Lamb … just as a defense, the pure math of having to deal with both of these two players and a quarterback who’s capable of getting them the ball accurately and aggressively … watch out.”
No Good Game Plan To Try And Stop Cowboys
Let’s step into the shoes of an NFC East defensive coordinator about to face the Cowboys this season and see where it takes us.
First off, the last time you faced the Cowboys the quarterback was backup Cooper Rush and not NFL All-Pro Dak Prescott, who missed 9 games in 2024 with a hamstring injury. Prescott can make all the throws Rush couldn’t.
Second, how are the running backs? If the combination of Javonte Williams, Miles Sanders and rookie Jaydon Blue can Frankenstein themselves into what resembles a competent running game, then you have to respect the play action. This is the biggest question mark.
Then there’s the offensive line. They’re elite. Your defensive line is hoping for a stalemate on most occasions but they could easily get mauled up front by Tyler Smith, Cooper Beebe and rookie Tyler Booker.
Want to stop the passing game? Tight end Jake Ferguson was a Pro Bowler in 2023 and struggled without Prescott. He should be back to being elite in 2025.
The Final Boss is Lamb and Pickens.
Through his first 5 seasons, Lamb is a 3-time NFL All-Pro and 3-time Pro Bowler with 4 consecutive seasons of over 1,100 receiving yards and 38 receiving touchdowns. In 2024, Lamb had 101 receptions for 1,194 yards and 6 touchdowns despite missing 2 games due to injury and not having Prescott for 9 games.
Pickens has at least 800 receiving yards in each of his first 3 seasons, including a career high 1,194 yards and 5 touchdowns in 2023. In 2024, he had 59 receptions for 900 yards and 3 touchdowns in 14 games.
There’s no formation in which Lamb and Pickens aren’t dangerous. The most enticing of those might be lining up Pickens in the slot and putting him in motion — or vice versa. Good luck trying to stop all of that.
