George Pickens trade still being praised across the NFL

It is still wild that George Pickens is a Cowboy.

Just like when the Dallas Cowboys traded for Amari Cooper, giving up a third-round pick for George Pickens has high upside for the offense. At the time of the Cooper trade, Dak Prescott desperately needed help at wide receiver after the team parted ways with Dez Bryant and went into the season with Allen Hurns, Deonte Thompson, and Tavon Austin.

This time around, Pickens doesn’t have all the pressure on his shoulders walking in, with CeeDee Lamb established as the team’s top target and Jalen Tolbert entering his fourth year on the same offense. That opens up the door for Pickens to do what he does best.

It’s no secret how good the fit is between Dallas and Pickens. So much so, it’s caught the attention of various figures across the league. ESPN published an article in which NFL executives and scouts gave their favorite moves of the offseason.

The Cowboys’ trade-first approach this offseason, acquiring Joe Milton, Kaiir Elam, and Kenneth Murray, showed an aggressive side of the organization. Pickens, however, was the golden goose for an NFC coach and someone in the personnel department of an AFC team.

“Dealing with CeeDee [Lamb] and him opens things up for them,” a coach in the division said.

Added an AFC personnel man: “He’ll be a big piece there. When he’s covered, he’s really open. I know the concerns are there, but I think having an already established passing game with veterans to help him along, and the fact he’s in a contract year, will help keep him in line. If you can tap into what he can do fully, his major ability will shine through.”

The one-two punch of Lamb and Pickens should (on paper) make the Dallas offense dangerous in the passing game, even with first-year head coach Brian Schottenheimer coming from his father’s tree of “Marty Ball.” Keeping options open and remaining versatile on offense seemed to be a focus when reconstructing the roster this offseason.

Using a first-round pick on Tyler Booker and a gamble on Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders should keep things moving in the run game. Dallas’ inability to run the ball in the first part of last season limited their game plan to depend on Prescott connecting with Lamb. It’s safe to say it didn’t work out.

Now, if the running game struggles to find its footing in the first few weeks of the season, having Lamb and Pickens on the outside, along with Jake Ferguson, KaVontae Turpin, and Tolbert, should keep the offense moving until they figure out how to run the ball.

So far, Pickens has been a model citizen in the Cowboys locker room, gaining the trust and respect of his quarterback and strengthening his existing connection with Lamb. The rest of the league should be aware of that, too.