The Dallas Cowboys have heard all offseason how they needed to address the wide receiver position and find a clear No. 2 option next to CeeDee Lamb.
Well, Dallas went out and made a splash at the receiver position, but don't try to tell Cowboys executive Stephen Jones that newly acquired wideout George Pickens is anything close to a No. 2 option. Jones went as far as to compare Pickens to one of the best wide receivers that Dallas has had in recent memory, Dez Bryant.
"He reminds a lot in our building of Dez Bryant, in terms of his competitiveness and what he brings to the field," Jones said of Pickens.
“He’s just a dynamic receiver,” Jones continued, via Albert Breer of SI.com. “Everybody says we’re looking for a two. I mean, George can be a one. He’s got that type of talent. He’s got unbelievable ball-tracking ability. He’s got plenty of juice and he’s a fiery competitor. And we love that, he plays with an edge, and we think he’d be a good fit for our team.”
"He reminds a lot in our building of Dez Bryant, in terms of his competitiveness and what he brings to the field."#Cowboys COO Stephen Jones reveals to @AdamSchein why the George Pickens trade made total sense for Dallas.
— Mad Dog Sports Radio (@MadDogRadio) May 12, 2025
🔗 https://t.co/jP0HFpEWEm pic.twitter.com/tL1oI5oJVY
Jones is saying all the right things in the aftermath of the trade with the Pittsburgh Steelers. The fact that Pickens is set to become an unrestricted free agent following the 2025 campaign is not lost on Jones or the Cowboys.
While his play on the field this season will determine what type of contract he receives next, keeping the former first-round pick happy entering OTAs and training camp is a smart move by Dallas' front office.
This past season, Pickens made 14 appearances for the Steelers and reeled in 59 receptions for 900 yards and three touchdowns. These numbers were down slightly from the 2023 campaign where Pickens appeared in all 17 games for Pittsburgh but are impressive nonetheless.
With Lamb and Pickens lined up across from one another on the outside, Dak Prescott will have more options than usual when looking to push the ball down the field. This should not only provide both Lamb and Pickens with better opportunities to make big plays, but it will also help the rushing game, which can catch opponents off guard when they're more focused on stopping the air attack.
On paper, Pickens seems like a great fit in Dallas and Jones has every reason to be excited about what he may contribute to the offense once the 2025 campaign kicks off. Only time will tell, however, just how long the Pickens-Lamb tandem will be in place in Dallas.