Examining the Cowboys Receiver Left Off the First-Team All-Pro
The 2026 All-Pro rosters for the NFL were released, and three Dallas Cowboys made the team, just not the first team. Wide receiver George Pickens, kicker Brandon Aubrey, who was one of the best kickers in the league, and kick returner KaVontae Turpin were the three Cowboys selected, and to the disapproval of many, Pickens was only on the second team. Pickens' first season in Dallas was easily the best of his career, and the connection he was able to make with Dak Prescott helped him have arguably the best season of his career. Pairing him alongside Ceedee Lamb also created arguably the best wide receiver duo in the NFL. The argument can be made that he was snubbed from the first team, but is that claim justified?
This past season, Pickens had 1429 receiving yards, 93 receptions, and nine touchdowns, all of which were career bests for him. His introduction to the Dallas team is a reason they had arguably the best offense in the NFL. He broke numerous Cowboy records early in the season for how consistently he was scoring touchdowns, with one being the most receiving touchdowns for a new player in Dallas. Not only were Pickens' numbers impressive by Dallas standards, but around the league as well. Pickens was third in the league in receiving yards, eighth in receptions and touchdowns, and averaged 15.4 yards per catch, the seventh best in the league.
Pickens’ numbers tell the story of the dominance he showed in his first year in Dallas, raising the question of who he would replace on the First-Team All-Pro? The two receivers who should clearly rank above Pickens are the Rams' Puka Nacua and the Seahawks' Jaxon Smith-Njigba, both of whom had extraordinary seasons last year. The Bengals' Ja'Marr Chase holds the final spot, and there is a compelling case for his inclusion. While Chase has the edge in yards per game at 89.1 to Pickens' 84.1, the numbers the rest of the way favor Pickens. In the season, Pickens had more yards and more touchdowns, all while having fewer receptions than Chase. What can be argued is that although Chase faced poor quarterback play, he still produced elite numbers, which justifies his spot. Conversely, Pickens' partnership with Prescott allows him to demonstrate why he should be considered the most talented receiver in the NFL. Chase being named a first-team All-Pro over Pickens is not a decision that would surprise many, but the statistics and visual performance indicators suggest that Pickens deserves more recognition.
