George Pickens Impact on the Cowboys in 2025
The Dallas Cowboys waited until after the draft to make their biggest splash move of the offseason by acquiring star wide receiver George Pickens from the Pittsburgh Steelers. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said the team was looking at substantial trades that could take place before or after the draft. While many believed this was a smokescreen and the Cowboys were prepared to ignore the wide receiver two position this offseason, the front office certainly delivered. The trade includes George Pickens and a 2027 sixth-round pick going to Dallas in exchange for a 2026 third-round pick and a 2027 fifth-round pick. A deciding factor for this trade after the draft was likely due to Dallas having already traded multiple mid-round picks in acquisitions earlier this offseason, which may have made more sense for Pittsburgh if they prefer the 2026 draft class.
Pickens brings a lot to the table as a deep threat with elite contested-catch ability to complement CeeDee Lamb, whose skill set is better suited for working across the middle and short areas of the field. Pickens has been productive through his first three seasons with the Steelers after being selected as a second-round draft pick out of Georgia in 2022. He has posted 2,841 receiving yards over his career, along with twelve touchdowns, and many believe he has not yet reached his full potential. The former Steeler is six-foot-three and weighs two hundred pounds, adding some much-needed size to this receiving corps.
There are concerns, however, about Pickens being a potential locker room headache, as he has been fined several times for unsportsmanlike conduct. He has also been outspoken about his unhappiness with his target share in the past. George Pickens is not an elite route separator, so Dak Prescott will have to be prepared to throw the contested deep ball to let Pickens shine in the Dallas offense. That said, Pickens remains an elite deep threat; his vertical speed and large catch radius add a new dimension to the offense.
George Pickens is now the fourth trade acquisition of the 2025 offseason for the Dallas Cowboys, and all signs point to the team being “all in” on Dak Prescott and company this season. Pickens joins a wide receiver room that includes CeeDee Lamb, Jalen Tolbert, Jonathan Mingo, and KaVontae Turpin. Dallas has built a threatening offense, featuring a young and powerful offensive line with Tyler Booker, Tyler Smith, and Cooper Beebe anchoring the interior. The true trio of wide receivers, with George Pickens and Jalen Tolbert on the outside and CeeDee Lamb working from the slot, gives Dallas the ability to win on three levels of the field. They will also involve tight end Jake Ferguson and a trio of running backs—Miles Sanders, Javonte Williams, and rookie Jaydon Blue—who can all contribute to a committee approach. This new and improved offense allows Dak Prescott to better analyze the field with more reliable weapons on the outside and a consistent run game he can depend on. Dallas has made the playoffs before with loaded rosters, and they hope that this offseason’s aggressive moves can finally push them over the edge.
