Jerry Jones has done it!
After what seemed like an eternity of slow offseasons with little to no action for the Dallas Cowboys, this year has been a major change of scenery.
After nailing the NFL draft and scoring an A+ on PFF's draft grades, the Dallas Cowboys decided to take the offseason acquisitions to another level by adding one of the most polarizing but dominant vertical threats in the league in Steelers wide receiver George Pickens.
This move has brought hope and light to Cowboys fans across the nation after a rough 7-10 season, but how does this impact the team, finances, scheme, and future of the Dallas Cowboys?
1. Football Implications
The obvious implication is an immediate upgrade to the wide receiver room and a massive upgrade to the offense as a whole.
The Cowboys have been struggling to find a dominant WR2 since Amari Cooper left, and CeeDee Lamb was seemingly on his own (no shade to Cooks, he filled that role temporarily). The Pickens trade opens up the offense and gives Dak Prescott a vertical threat and field stretcher to force opponents' defenses to scheme for both Lamb and Pickens.
This also means that Lamb will be opened up a lot due to defenses having to account for Pickens as a more serious threat than other options in the past. We will likely see Lamb double-teamed a lot less now, which can help his productivity on a play-by-play basis.
With upgrades on the offensive line, the Cowboys have the option now to pose as both a run and pass threat in early downs, also allowing Dak more time in the pocket to make those throws and giving him more time to go through his progressions.
Pickens is a unique receiver who can dominate in contested catches with his physical play style, which can also help on the back end with run blocking if needed.
2. Financial Implications
The financial implications are where this trade gets interesting. Pickens happens to have the same agent as Cowboys star linebacker Micah Parsons, who is currently in negotiations for a long-term deal. While Pickens isn't the same caliber player as Parsons, the wide receiver market is hotter than ever, and Pickens could look to demand a hefty pay raise to stay in Dallas for the long haul.
Pickens, at age 24, is currently going into the last year of his deal before he will enter free agency if he isn't extended. Considering the draft capital Dallas gave up to get him (2026 third-round pick plus a trade back from the fifth-round to the sixth-round), it would make sense for Dallas to extend Pickens to a long-term deal instead of running with a one-year rental.
According to Jeremy Fowler, sources have claimed that a rental is the direction the Cowboys are looking to go, and letting Pickens play out the last year of his deal. This does come with its risk as it would likely mean Pickens either walks next off-season, or is due even more money than what would be demanded today.
The other tricky part on the financial end is the fact that there are so many star players demanding large contracts in Dallas right now. After paying Dak and Lamb, and with Parsons' contract talks in the air, paying Pickens would result in having to play moneyball with the remainder of the team.
It is even more difficult to build the trenches playing moneyball after giving up valuable draft capital to do so through the draft. But as of now, I am optimistic that this move is an overall positive rather than another setback.
3. Play Scheme
The upgrade from Jalen Tolbert to George Pickens is one that expands the playbook significantly and will create a ripple effect throughout the entire offensive scheme.
Brandin Cooks previously was in that field-stretching role, but at age 31 and not eclipsing 1,000 yards in a season since 2021 in Houston, his threat level was seemingly low.
The introduction of a young, physical field-stretcher in Pickens creates a much more dynamic offense, which will see a significant increase in big-play percentage. Dak Prescott is a clear winner from this trade as he no longer has to solely rely on Lamb for the splash plays, and coming off another season-ending injury, help is exactly what Dak needs to elevate his play to the next level.
Klayton Adams, Dallas Cowboys' offensive coordinator, is known for his aggressive and physical play scheme, which is why Pickens makes so much sense as an addition. After all, there aren't many other receivers more physical and aggressive than Pickens has been throughout his career (for better or for worse).
4. The Future of the Cowboys
The contractual future outlook is very blurry as of this moment. With the trade being so fresh and contracts yet to be signed, there is no telling what will happen.
The one thing we know will be consistent is the new coaching regime, as this is their first season in charge, and they have been killing it so far. Originally, I was unsure of the promotion of Brian Schottenheimer to head coach, but now I am fully on board and ready to be hurt again (let's go Schotty!)
My hope is that we can prioritize Parsons, keep our studs, and continue to build the trenches to become real contenders and break the nearly 3 decade Super Bowl drought we are so kindly reminded of every year from our "friends" and rivals.