What's Cowboys 'Pull The Trigger' Reasoning On George Pickens Trade?
The Dallas Cowboys desperately needed a receiver and, post-draft, pulled the trigger on a trade for Pittsburgh Steelers star George Pickens.
But how did that trade eventuate?
With the need for a running mate for CeeDee Lamb well documented, it was seen as the last piece of offseason business before the Cowboys could tie everything neatly into a bow and head towards OTAs and training camp.
Advertisement
The draft was where most thought Dallas would take a receiver with Tetairoa McMillan a clear favorite, but as Cowboys COO Stephen Jones explains, once the draft came and went, the front office moved swiftly to get the Pickens trade over the line.
"As we did more and more homework, as I said going into the draft, we didn't know if we were going to get a receiver high or not, we were certainly considering it, when we didn't end up doing anything at receiver because it's the way the board fell," Jones said. "After the draft, we had several options on the table and dug in even more in terms of understand what each player brings to the table, and we thought George was the right answer and decided to move quickly and pull the trigger."
Steelers wide receiver George Pickens (14) looks on in the third quarter against the Ravens.Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images
So there are a couple of really good nuggets here.
Advertisement
First, the Cowboys didn't "reach" for a receiver after missing out on McMillan. The franchise could have been forgiven for frantically going after Emeka Egbuka or Matthew Golden, but they stayed true to their draft board, potentially knowing they had Pickens and Rashod Bateman in their back pockets.
And the second one is once Dallas realized its situation with Pickens, there was no prolonged talks about the trade, it was a quick deal. The franchise knew what it wanted and as Jones said "pulled the trigger" on the trade.
Two acts that will surely make Cowboys Nation feel a little better about the offseason work.
Dallas needed a receiver, and when things didn't go its way in the draft, it stuck to the plan and got a good haul. Then, once Pickens was in their crosshairs, it was go time.
Advertisement
So it is clear that the Cowboys had a plan of attack at receiver, and while the path to landing the sometimes-controversial Pickens wasn't exactly straightforward, once the front office knew all they needed to know, the decision was easy.
And now Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb have a weapon who is going to help them tremendously, and it's all because the much-maligned Cowboys front office was proactive in making a move to signal their 2025 intentions.
Related: Cowboys 4 New Starters Projected in Dak-Led Offense
Related: Cowboys Get U2 Comparison in Whiny Colin Cowherd Rant
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
26 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Cowboys 1st Look In Photos at 'Goodfellas' Lamb and Pickens Eye '1,000-Yard Club'
Coach Brian Schottenheimer has a chance to oversee an offense that can produce two 1,000-yard receivers in his new and hopefully improved offense with the Dallas Cowboys. The talent is here. So is the challenge. Advertisement During the five-year Mike McCarthy era, Dallas had high-powered offenses at times but never had two 1,000-yard receivers in the same season. The last time the Cowboys had two receivers eclipse 1,000 yards during the same season was in 2019 with Amari Cooper and Michael Gallup. But now? With CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens now in the fold, the Dallas wide receiver room looks poised to once again challenge itself toward accomplishing the feat. Prior to trading for Pickens, the Cowboys had a clear need for a dangerous No. 2 receiver that would take some of the load off the shoulders of Lamb. With the deal done, the "Goodfellas'' - as Pickens labeled the pair on social media - are trying to change the way the pecking order is considered. Advertisement "Oh no, we're both 1's," Lamb said last weekend. "It ain't no A/B, none of that, it's 1, you look over there you see 1, you look over here, you see another 1. So do what you gotta do with that." To Lamb's point, we got our first look at Lamb and Pickens on the field with QB Dak Prescott on Tuesday with Mike Fisher positioned inside The Star ... and with Pickens donning a No. 13 jersey. How did it all look? Here's Dak and his weapons ... And here's Pickens during and after a hard day's work ... Pickens certainly has an argument to being a No. 1 receiver in his own right as he steadily improved each of his three seasons in Pittsburgh despite questionable quarterback play and a scheme that maybe didn't fit his skillset. (Oh, and his own behavioral issues.) Advertisement In Dallas, Pickens will be playing with the best quarterback he has played with in his young career with Pro Bowler Dak Prescott at the helm. Lamb and Pickens - as was the case at OTAs on Tuesday - will feed off each other's presence as both will see more one-on-one matchups resulting in opposing defenses being in a pick your poison scenario. The look? So far, so good. And maybe a lot a combined yardage in the "Goodfellas'' future. Related: Jaydon Blue Previews New Cowboys Threads Related: Cowboys Dak and CeeDee Meet Young Fan In Heartwarming Video Going Viral
Yahoo
26 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Offensive lineman will finally get some love on the NFL awards ballot. Which Dallas Cowboys protector has the best shot at winning the award?
Offensive lineman will finally get some love on the NFL awards ballot. Which Dallas Cowboys protector has the best shot at winning the award? originally appeared on Athlon Sports. It's about time offensive linemen get some more notoriety around the NFL. Advertisement They play some of the most demanding positions on the field, but are hardly ever recognized appropriately. The league is hoping to change that with a new addition to the regular season awards ballot this year. Alongside mainstays like MVP and Defensive Player of the Year will be "Protector of the Year". The award will annually honor the season's best lineman and be voted on by a panel of former great O-lineman from across NFL history. Yes, only one lineman will receive the honor each season. With at least five playing regularly on each team ... that makes for a loaded competition pool. This encouraged Pro Football Network to highlight one player on each team who has the best shot at winning the award in its inaugural season. Advertisement To no surprise, the Dallas Cowboys lineman picked was left guard Tyler Smith. He was ranked the 11th-most-likely contender for the award across the entire NFL. "After the retirement of Zack Martin, the Dallas Cowboys' offensive line is Smith's group now," the article said. "He's been a Pro Bowler each of the last two years and should be in the mix for Protector of the Year, especially if the Cowboys' passing attack fares well with Dak Prescott throwing to the tandem of CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens." The names listed above Smith were Penei Sewell, Tristan Wirfs, Jordan Mailata, Creed Humphrey, Trent Williams, Rashawn Slater, Quinn Meinerz, Chris Lindstrom, Laremy Tunsil and Joe Thuney. Advertisement Dallas' first-rounder from 2022 has been nothing short of exceptional, starting every game he's been healthy for since joining "America's Team". At just 24 years old, Smith was acknowledged earlier this offseason as one of just two offensive lineman named to the top 25 under 25 list that showcases the league's best young talent. This season, Smith will look to lead a very inexperienced offensive line protecting QB Dak Prescott. The longest-tenured player in the projected starting lineup is five-year pro Terence Steele, with Smith being the next oldest. If he continues his exceptional play, not only will the Tulsa product be in the running to walk away with a new award, he could be expecting a major pay day in his rookie extension. Advertisement Winning the Protector of the Year award would go a long way in making that happen and solidifying Tyler Smith's odds of being the next great Cowboys lineman. Related: Cowboys Make Official $21 Million Decision on 2-Time Pro Bowler Related: Cowboys Experimenting with Offensive Line Versatility This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on May 31, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
26 minutes ago
- Yahoo
"I'm sick to my stomach if I'm Micah Parsons. The Cowboys are sitting back like 'all is well, status quo.' If you're Micah do you really want to be a part of that?''
"I'm sick to my stomach if I'm Micah Parsons. The Cowboys are sitting back like 'all is well, status quo.' If you're Micah do you really want to be a part of that?'' - ESPN originally appeared on Athlon Sports. FRISCO - The Dallas Cowboys and their "selectively aggressive" philosophy moved them to trade for George Pickens ... maybe putting a cork into some of the criticism that "America's Team'' is unwilling to do enough to compete. Advertisement But the next step remains undone. And the national media is getting that itch ... All-Pro defensive star Micah Parsons this offseason responded to the Washington Commanders acquiring Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil to protect rising quarterback Jayden Daniels with three simple letters: WFT. In response to Parsons' visible frustration, ESPN's Get Up! offers advice to the star, who is under contract for 2025 and has worked with the Cowboys in negotiating a contract extension that we believe could end in a five-year, $200 million deal that would make him the highest-paid non-QB in NFL history. ESPN's advice? In short, "Dallas sucks.'' Advertisement That day, host Mike Greenberg and panelists Dan Orlovsky and Damien Woody took turns ripping the Cowboys while also telling Parsons to leave Dallas ... with no details of what that strategy would look like. "Get used to it," Greenberg said of other teams doing more than Dallas does. Orlovsky: "The Cowboys are 13th in free-agency spending the last three seasons, yet their value has gone up $3 billion. That's an owner stat, not a football stat." Woody: "I'm sick to my stomach if I'm Micah. The Cowboys are sitting back like 'all is well, status quo.' If you're Micah do you really want to be a part of that?'' Advertisement Of course, here we are a few weeks later and ESPN feels all wrong. The Cowboys didn't "sit back.'' They are clearly trying to compete. And yet ... The national media advice never stops, with PFT's Mike Florio advising Parsons to stay away from offseason workouts until a new deal is done. That advice ignores the fact that Parsons is presently under contract ... and as it includes the statement "the Cowboys are clueless,'' feels like nothing more that contrarian trolling. And it echoes something Greenberg said in his "advice to Micah.'' "Do I want to be one of the biggest stars in the NFL - because the Cowboys can do that - or do I want to be on a championship team?'' he wondered. "Right now the Cowboys feel about as far from that as anyone in the entire league." Advertisement Related: Cowboys 1st Look In Photos at 'Goodfellas' Lamb and Pickens Eye '1,000-Yard Club' Related: Cowboys Brian Schottenheimer Details Micah Parsons 'Controversial' OTAs Decision This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 1, 2025, where it first appeared.
