Photo Credit: Dallas Cowboys
George Pickens hasn’t been with the Dallas Cowboys for long, but he’s already making a strong impression—especially with quarterback Dak Prescott and star wideout CeeDee Lamb.
During a recent organized team activity (OTA), Prescott looked left toward Pickens but ended up throwing to Jalen Tolbert for a short gain. Right after the play, Prescott went over to Pickens, gave him a quick pointer, and tapped his helmet.
Moments later, the same play unfolded—this time Prescott threw the ball to Pickens, who made a smooth adjustment to haul in the catch. It was a small moment, but one the Cowboys hope signals big things ahead.
A Fresh Duo in Dallas
Pickens joined the Cowboys less than a month ago in a trade with the Pittsburgh Steelers. The team needed another strong option at wide receiver, and pairing Pickens with Lamb gives Dallas a dangerous one-two punch.
“Man, we complement each other very well,” Lamb said. “Obviously, he’s a tall figure. His ability to go up and get the ball at the highest point is amazing. I don’t think anybody in the league can really … he’s up there with the guys in the league as far as 50/50 balls, deep threat. Anything as far as running routes, it’s pretty good. It’s good to see.”
Their early connection looks promising. Pickens and Lamb have trained together in the past and were recently spotted at Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray’s charity softball game. At last week’s practice, they were nearly inseparable—working together during breaks and catching passes on the Jugs machine.
Learning From Each Other
Pickens said Lamb’s precise footwork stands out.
“Just intermediate stuff,” Pickens said. “He’s got great feet, stepping in certain places. He steps in place a lot, which means he can get where he’s going fast and in a short space. And he’s tall. A lot of people don’t know he’s kind of tall.”
Lamb, now in his fifth season, remembers what it was like learning from veteran Amari Cooper as a rookie. Now he’s paying it forward.
“When I was a rookie, I was still a student of the game, and I was excited to learn, anxious to learn and stay in my books and asking questions, which is what [Pickens] is doing,” Lamb said. “Fast forward five years later, now the roles are reversed. Still grateful again, I can’t appreciate Coop enough for the knowledge that he’s given me. Man, he’s impacted my career for the long haul.”
Prescott Likes What He Sees
Prescott has worked with several standout receivers in his career—Dez Bryant, Amari Cooper, Cole Beasley, and Michael Gallup among them. With Lamb, he has a receiver who just led the NFL in catches (135) and set Cowboys records for receptions and yards (1,749) in 2023.
Adding Pickens gives Dallas another threat defenses must account for.
“Looking at the guy’s tape, you see what he does, the kind of receiver he is. He’s going to win on one-on-ones. He can win two versus one if he has to,” Prescott said. “Very, very talented guy. When you can add him alongside a CeeDee and the rest of the weapons we have, I’m super excited.”
Still Learning the Playbook
Pickens admits he’s still learning the offense, but he’s not worried. He said most plays in the NFL are similar, and with a full offseason—including minicamp and Prescott’s usual summer throwing sessions—he’ll have plenty of time to catch up.
“Offenses around the league are kind of universal,” he said.
A Fresh Start
Pickens arrives in Dallas with some baggage from his time in Pittsburgh. There were questions about his attitude, including being late to meetings and showing frustration on the field. But early signs in Dallas are encouraging.
Cowboys offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer has been impressed.
“I see a guy that’s maturing. I see a guy that we’re excited to put out there and watch him grow and get better,” Schottenheimer said. “He obviously is a tremendous athlete, but I love watching him in meetings, because in meetings, he’s been so dialed in, taking great notes.
“He knows he’s a little bit behind, not a lot but a little bit behind in terms of what the veterans are doing. But his intentionality in the meeting room has been really cool for me to see.”
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This report used information from ESPN.
