When the Dallas Cowboys traded for George Pickens this spring, it was a case of risk and reward. Pickens had shown plenty of talent during his three seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers, but he also showed an enigmatic side, clashing with coaches, players, and opponents before he was moved to Dallas.
Through three games, Pickens hasn’t had the crash out he had been famous for in the Steel City, and he became a key part of the offense when CeeDee Lamb was injured in the Week 3 loss to the Chicago Bears.
With the chance to move to the top of the depth chart, many feel Pickens could see this as an opportunity to establish himself as he proceeds through a contract year. But his response to The Athletic’s Jon Machota shows that he’s exceeded the expectations many had on him when he was traded to the Cowboys.
“I wouldn’t really say value,” Pickens replied. “This is a team game. I just want the whole team to win.”
George Pickens Remains a Team Player Amid Cowboys’ Early Struggles
Comments like this were rarely seen during Pickens’s time with the Steelers. A second-round pick in the 2022 draft, Pickens caught 174 passes for 2,841 yards and 12 touchdowns over three seasons but also suffered from poor quarterback play from Kenny Pickett, Mason Rudolph, Justin Fields, and Russell Wilson.
Pickens also showed plenty of frustration over not getting the ball at times and former NFL receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh deemed him “selfish” during an appearance on the YouTube show Nightcap last June.
“I don’t know if you know George, I’ve been around him a little bit,” Houshmandzadeh said. “He just don’t give a damn. His representatives were like ‘Hey you need to do this. He was probably like, ‘No, I ain’t doing it. I don’t care, I ain’t doing it. I don’t care what you say. I’m not doing this. I think it’s unfortunately because he’s probably going to take a hit in his reputation. I don’t think he gives a damn. But those kids, that’s the part of it. They just going to be disappointed.”
With his former coach Mike Tomlin also calling on him to “grow up” last December, Pickens probably realized he needed to change his ways if he wanted to get paid this offseason. That’s turned over a new leaf in Dallas, even though he’s caught just 13 passes for 166 yards and two touchdowns over the first three games.
“I feel like I’ve played good,” Pickens told Machota when asked about his performance. “But it’s nothing if the team doesn’t play good. I just want to get the victory.”
Victories have been hard to come by as the Cowboys are a 64-yard field goal from Brandon Aubrey away from being 0-3 on the season. And although Pickens was caught slamming his helmet during Sunday’s loss to the Bears, it also coincided with a critical drop that effectively ended the game.
With 14 games to go, it may be a matter of time until Pickens goes completely nuclear. It could also lead to long-term mistakes if the Cowboys pay Pickens after the season and he goes back to his old habits. But for now, the Cowboys are getting what they hoped for and could see Pickens stay beyond his “prove it” season.