New Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens is delighted he's now in a speedy offense.
At mandatory minicamp on Wednesday, Pickens, who Dallas acquired in a trade with the Pittsburgh Steelers on May 7, said the 2025 Cowboys are the fastest team he has played with since his time with the Georgia Bulldogs.
"Just the guys and the team speed," Pickens said when asked why Dallas is the right place for him. "The team speed applies to the team scheme, too. If you've got a lot of fast guys, you're definitely gonna have a different scheme."
The Cowboys roster features multiple players who can fly. Rookie running back Jaydon Blue ran a 4.38 40-yard dash at the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine. According to SumerSports, Dallas wide receiver KaVontae Turpin runs a 4.37 40-yard dash.
Pickens doesn't have blazing speed like Blue or Turpin, but he's not a slouch. At the 2022 scouting combine, he ran a 4.47 40-yard dash. However, in three seasons with the Steelers, he struggled to become a consistent threat in the vertical passing game, never finishing with more than five touchdown catches.
Not all blame falls on Pickens. The Steelers rotated through multiple quarterbacks during his time in Pittsburgh. The 2022 second-round pick played with Kenny Pickett, Russell Wilson and Justin Fields.
Dallas is more stable at the most important position. In nine seasons with the Cowboys, QB Dak Prescott has made three Pro Bowls and earned a second-team All-Pro nod.
If Pickens, Prescott and WR CeeDee Lamb click, the Cowboys passing attack should become much more explosive in 2025.
"You can't cover everybody," Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson said of adding Pickens Wednesday. "Having him, No. 88 and Jalen [Tolbert], and some of the young guys like myself, Brevyn [Spann-Ford] and [Luke] Schoonmaker, you physically can not cover everybody."
In 2024, the Cowboys had the league's 11th-most passing yards per game (227.2). Adding Pickens could bolster the unit, especially if Dallas takes advantage of his ability to stretch the field.
