Despite concerns, George Pickens is a perfect fit for Brian Schottenheimer’s Cowboys

Here is how George Pickens can help the Cowboys

After months of anticipation and speculation, and a complete lack of moves during the 2025 NFL Draft, the Dallas Cowboys have finally added a viable starter at wide receiver opposite CeeDee Lamb.

They traded for Steelers receiver George Pickens on Wednesday, and the move already has fans divided. Our own RJ Ochoa broke down the pros and cons of the trade, and it’s easy to understand why one of the most controversial wide receivers in the NFL has provoked such a reaction.

No one is questioning the talent. Let’s start there.

Listed at 6’3”, Pickens is one of the tallest receivers in the league, and he plays like it. Nobody had more receptions on passes thrown 20+ yards downfield than Pickens last year, and the Steelers understood his value as a deep threat. Only nine other receivers ran a higher rate of go routes and deep fades.

That’s not all, though. Check out Pickens’ success rate by routes from his rookie year in 2022 to his second season.

Pickens remained elite on deep routes, but expanded his route tree efficiency. Per ESPN Analytics, Pickens posted a 48 open score as a rookie – open score measures a receiver’s ability to create separation on routes – but upped that figure to 70 in 2023 and 68 in 2024.

He’s also proven to be one of the best run-blocking wide receivers out there. Among full-time starters at the position, Pickens’ run blocking grade of 63.6 from Pro Football Focus ranked sixth, ahead of bigger names like A.J. Brown and Amon-Ra St. Brown.

That hints at the biggest concern for Pickens, though. He’s a great run blocker because he loves the physicality of the sport, but sometimes he loves it too much.

Pickens has garnered a reputation as a bit of a headcase, a ticking time bomb waiting to go off, with multiple explosions each season. He’s been rather public in the past about not getting enough targets, often stoked rumors that he wanted out of Pittsburgh, and got in numerous fights and squabbles with opponents; while Pickens has never been suspended, the NFL has handed down 10 fines over his three seasons totaling $123,989. Cowboys fans will surely remember one of those moments.

So how can Brian Schottenheimer, a first-time head coach, figure out Pickens’ strong personality when Mike Tomlin, of all people, couldn’t?

Well, as Schottenheimer himself said in his introductory press conference, he’s great with people. Look to his time in Seattle, in fact. Schottenheimer has already taken steps to implement similar things from Pete Carroll’s Seahawks dynasty, one of which includes being unafraid to bring in talented players with strong (or, as some may characterize it, volatile) personalities.

One such player was DK Metcalf, whose player profile is in many ways very similar to that of Pickens. Metcalf had a huge frame and great long speed with perhaps too much passion for getting physical with defenders. In fact, Metcalf – who, coincidentally, was traded to Pittsburgh earlier this offseason – has 14 fines as a pro totaling $207,043.

Despite that, Carroll wanted to take a chance on Metcalf. And the first offensive coordinator to work with Metcalf in the NFL was none other than Schottenheimer.

Metcalf exploded onto the scene as a rookie, finishing with 900 yards and seven touchdowns. He leveled up the next year, hitting 1,303 yards and being named a second team All Pro. Schottenheimer was let go after that season, and while Metcalf has remained productive, that 2020 season is still the best of his career.

Also of note: only one of Metcalf’s 14 career fines happened during the two years Schottenheimer coached him. The lone fine was for excessive celebration, too, hardly on the same level as the many taunting and brawl fines Metcalf has received since then.

Obviously Metcalf and Pickens are different personalities, and the best way to manage one player is not the same as the best way to manage another. Schottenheimer certainly understands this, too. But it does speak to his ability to work with a player that many consider very similar to Pickens.

Schottenheimer can even have that conversation with Pickens. He can point to Metcalf as a success story, and tell Pickens that if he buys into what the Cowboys are building, he can have the same kind of impact in Dallas. That, combined with Pickens playing on the final year of his deal, creates a perfect scenario in which the newest Cowboy can get it together and put forth the best year of his career (so far).