In May 2025, George Pickens was traded by the Pittsburgh Steelers to the Dallas Cowboys, where he had a solid season with a career-high 93 receptions for 1,429 receiving yards.

Head coach Brian Schottenheimer addressed the Cowboys' plans for Pickens, with comments shared by The Athletic's Jon Machota on NFL Network. The Statement said,

"You guys know how much we love George. We gave Pittsburgh a third-round pick last year and what he did on the field was incredible. The relationship with Pickens and CeeDee Lamb is awesome. We look forward to George being a huge part of what we're doing this season and hopefully beyond."

Dallas chose to wait until 2027 to sign Pickens to a long-term deal, so he will play the 2026 season on a $27.3 million franchise tag.

Pickens started 15 of 17 games in 2025 and scored nine touchdowns. He was third in the NFL in receiving yards and got his first Pro Bowl and second-team All-Pro honors. He caught an average of 15.4 yards per catch, which was the seventh best in the league.

Pickens is working out with Dak Prescott this offseason, and he has already played with CeeDee Lamb last season. Pickens and Lamb formed a productive receiving duo in 2025.

George Pickens Signed Franchise Tag

Pickens signed his franchise tag just two hours before the draft. This was a result of the Cowboys ceasing long-term contract talks. According to NFL.com, Jones spoke with Pickens and his agent, with talks described as professional.

"We've got every reason in the world to believe that hopefully he's ready to go to work. But we have zero intention of moving George Pickens," Jones told reporters following the conclusion of the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft on Thursday.

The signature secures Pickens for the 2026 season as Dallas looks to maximize its offensive window.

While with that third-round pick, the Steelers chose Penn State QB Drew Allar, the 76th overall pick, this week.

Besides deciding on Pickens, the Cowboys have also selected seven players in the 2026 NFL Draft. Namely, Caleb Downs (S, No. 11), Malachi Lawrence (Edge, No. 23), Jaishawn Barham (LB, No. 92), Drew Shelton (OT, No. 112), Devin Moore (CB, No. 114), LT Overton (DL, No. 137), and Anthony Smith (WR, No. 218).

Do you agree with the Cowboys' decisions so far? Let us know in the comments.

Written by

Abhay Bharti