Way to go Cowboys, you just made a fearless move! They recently received wide-out George Pickens from the Pittsburgh Steelers in a deal. This pick up is the latest move in the squad’s apparent plan to build a more potent offensive attack ahead of the 2023 season. Pickens has certainly made his early mark as a dynamic playmaker in the league. He should make the offense more explosive, particularly when he pairs up with star receiver CeeDee Lamb.
During his three seasons at Pittsburgh, Pickens totaled 174 catches for 2,841 yards and 12 receiving tutties. His performance has garnered attention and respect across the league, and Cowboys’ executive vice president Stephen Jones expressed confidence in his abilities. Jones noted that while Pickens had some disciplinary issues, he is “well loved by his teammates.” This serves to emphasize the dynamic impact he’s had both on and off-field.
Jones even compared Pickens to Dez Bryant, the Cowboys’ former star and current Jones favorite. Bryant holds the current franchise record for most touchdown receptions. He described Pickens as an “uber competitor,” noting his uncanny desire to be the best. “He just couldn’t get enough. When the lights came on and his cleats touched the turf, he was a different animal,” said Jones. He further noted Pickens equally matches the intensity of Bryant.
Now that Dallas moves onto HOTYF, they’ll be looking for Pickens to help change the complexion of their offense. Just ask Dak Prescott, the team’s quarterback, who told ESPN he was thrilled to have Pickens to the depth chart. “I know CeeDee needs some help, and I think when you have a guy like that, it’s hard to double-team two guys,” Prescott stated. He pointed to other gifted offensive players, like tight end Jake Ferguson and wideouts Jalen Tolbert and Jonathan Mingo. Their shared skills are forming a dynamic, versatile class of offensive playmakers.
Jones reiterated that the Cowboys had done a lot of “homework” on Pickens before even making the trade official. He understood that an emotional, reactive game leads to turnovers, as he learned through the same emotional experiences with Bryant. Pickens is dead set on making his second—and last—season count. “He knows he wants to continue to get his hands around that, just like Dez worked at it all the time,” Jones added.
Even before former NFL quarterback Dan Orlovsky went public with his approval for the trade, he’s convinced that signing Pickens would add a key piece to help the Cowboys return to the playoffs. With the combination of Prescott’s leadership and a talented receiving corps, including the newly acquired Pickens, the Cowboys appear poised for a competitive season.
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