With a boatload of talent, the former Steelers star is having an up-and-down career in Dallas. What will the future hold?
Over his three years in Pittsburgh, Pickens caught 174 passes for 2,841 yards and 12 touchdowns. Then the Dallas Cowboys traded for George Pickens in May 2025, who had one year left on his rookie contract.
Pickens in Pittsburgh (photo courtesy Mill Creek Sports)
Heading into the 2026 off-season, many wondered whether wide receiver George Pickens would re-sign with the Dallas Cowboys. Some thought the Cowboys should let George Pickens walk, deeming him “a cancer.” Others believed the Cowboys needed to take a strong stance with him given his behavior in Pittsburgh.
In one way, the Cowboys’ handling of Pickens was par for the course for how that club re-signs players, often waiting until the last minute to close deals. View edge rusher Micah Parsons as an example. Parsons put up big sack numbers for Dallas, averaging over 13 a year in his first three seasons. That performance earned him four Pro Bowl teams with four nominations for NFL Defensive Player of the Year.
It should have been a no- brainer for Jerry to re-sign him. Instead, the Cowboys traded Parsons to Green Bay for defensive tackle Kenny Clark and two first-round draft picks, one in 2026 and one in 2027.
Why? Here’s the backstory. Unsettled with a new contract in place, Parsons didn’t report for training camp in July 2025, which isn’t unusual for NFL players who feel they have performed and deserve proper compensation. That’s one thing, but questionable on-field behavior is another, and that was Parsons’ bane. For example, TV showed Parsons lying on the table as a preseason game progressed.
By trading Micah Parsons, the Cowboys sent a message to every player: professionalism is nonnegotiable. No player is bigger than the program.
Pickens as a Cowboy (photo courtesy of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
At first, it seemed likely Pickens would be on the trade block like Parsons. After all, the players share the same agent, David Mulugheta. But things were different in Pickens’m case. He eventually reported to camp, playing on a one-year franchise deal worth $27.3 million guaranteed.
The Cowboys were rewarded for it. Pickens put up massive numbers, recording 93 receptions for 1,429 yards and scoring nine touchdowns. With consistent play, he reached the 100-yard-per-game plateau in five games.
That performance was exactly what Dallas needed. CeeDee Lamb missed time twice last season (high ankle sprain and a Grade 1 concussion). Pickens picked up the slack when Lamb was sidelined, catching 19 passes for 359 yards and scoring four touchdowns.
But amid the great numbers, issues persist. Pickens doesn’t always give his best effort, and he struggles when the ball isn’t coming his way. For example, against the Lions, he looked to pull up early on a deep route after beating his man. Later in the same game, he didn’t make a great effort to get back to the ball.
Despite those issues, Pickens has a history of coming through in the clutch and making big plays. His speed, crafty route-running, and hands are three reasons why. For example, against the Texans in early October, he caught a 53-yarder, making a spectacular catch against cornerback Kamari Lassiter. Down at the time, the Cowboys came back to win 34-20.
The big question is whether Pickens’ productivity will increase as the season progresses. If it doesn’t, that outcome will raise serious questions about his longevity in Dallas.
