One of the biggest fan requests for the Dallas Cowboys during the last NFL Draft was to acquire a No. 2 wide receiver to complement CeeDee Lamb. However, the team ultimately didn’t draft anyone for that role, which upset many fans-especially with Jerry Jones.
But the Cowboys’ owner had a surprise in mind: he wanted to get one of the most talented receivers in the league, and that player was George Pickens. There’s no doubt about Pickens’ talent, but his relationship with Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin had deteriorated, and the Steelers had moved on to DK Metcalf.
For this reason, the Cowboys traded a 2026 third-round pick and a 2027 fifth-round pick to Pittsburgh to acquire Pickens, who had been a second-round pick in 2022. So far, he has delivered.
George Pickens in a contract year
After four weeks in the NFL, Pickens has performed exceptionally, recording 21 receptions for 300 yards and 4 touchdowns. This is particularly important because he is in a contract year and will be looking for a significant extension, whether with the Cowboys or elsewhere.
His best performance came last Sunday, when he stepped into the WR1 role due to CeeDee Lamb’s injury, recording 134 yards and two touchdowns. After the game, Jerry Jones praised Pickens’ dedication, noting that one of the reasons he left Pittsburgh was related to discipline concerns.
Since Jerry Jones is clearly impressed with Pickens, speculation about a potential extension with the Cowboys is starting to grow. It will be challenging because CeeDee Lamb is the team’s WR1, but the Cowboys have cap space flexibility, as Jones mentioned, which allows them to offer a generous extension if they want to retain him.
It’s worth noting that WR1 contracts in 2025 range from $20-30 million per year. With performances like these, Pickens is positioning himself to be a top-10 paid receiver in 2026. If he continues this trajectory, interesting developments are ahead for the Dallas Cowboys.
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