FRISCO — The Dallas Cowboys answered a roster question that was left unattended though free agency and the draft, trading for wide receiver George Pickens. Dallas had multiple opportunities to fill the void and has done so in an exciting way.
It's an aggressive move that fans have begged for since last year when they promised an "all in" mindset and never delivered. Even better than the bold strategy here is the actual player they are getting.
Pickens poses elite playmaking prowess and speed that makes him a downfield threat. These are the exact elements that have been missing from the Cowboys' offense.
It's an obvious on-the-field fit for the Cowboys. But what about the player they are adding to the locker room?
They will certainly have to navigate some hurdles with his fiery personality. However, the Cowboys have clearly made a strong first impression and Pickens has taken a liking to The Star.
"It was like my old draft reaction. I found out when everyone else found out. I feel great, I like the mojo here. I like the swag, there's a lot of new players I've been meeting. I feel like they have a good thing going, for sure."
"Mojo" and "swag" are not the words one would use in describing this team over the last year. In fact, the Cowboys could not get further from those two adjectives.
These were not the descriptors of the Mike McCarthy Cowboys especially at the end. But there is some evidence that points to Brian Schottenheimer having a tangible difference in this area and perhaps being the catalyst for this turnaround.
"Schotty" is a front office favorite and a player's favorite. The anecdotes from Osa Odighizuwa following his big contract and Tyler Booker during his official visit only drive that point further.
Pickens has been in Dallas for just a minute, so that is not a lot of time to soak in the culture and get a real feel for things. But if the new guy is picking up on these vibes from the people he has already met, that "mojo" must be coming from somewhere.
We'll posit that the nature of Pickens and Schotty's relationship is an unknown at this point. But the culture that has been created thus far has clearly resonated with the team's next star.
