Photo by Joseph Patronite/Getty Images We’re counting down to the season opener (Day 56) with some Cowboys history We’re counting down the days until the Dallas Cowboys battle the Philadelphia Eagles in the season opener of the 2025 NFL season. To pass the time and mark the days, we running through 100 Days of Cowboys. So sit back and enjoy some Cowboys history while we countdown to football. Today – number 56. Jay Novacek Born: October 24, 1962. Martin, South DakotaPosition: Tight end Dallas Cowboys: 1990-1996Awards: Super Bowl champion- XXVII, XXVIII, XXXAll-Pro- 1991, 1992Pro Bowl– 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995 Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images Jay Novacek played tight end for the Dallas Cowboys from 1990 to 1995, joining the team as a free agent after a quiet start to his career in St. Louis. In Dallas, Novacek flourished as a vital weapon in the passing game and as an integral part of the run game that became so formidable in the 1990’s. He would become a favorite target of quarterback Troy Aikman, throwing to his reliable target in high pressure moments. Known for his sure hands, precise route running, and ability to find soft spots in coverage, Novacek earned five straight Pro Bowl selections and helped the Cowboys win three Super Bowls during the team’s 1990s dynasty. In Super Bowl XXX, no one knew it at the time, but this would be Jay Novacek’s final touchdown for Dallas and he would retire the next year. The Cowboys would go to win the competition and would be their last appearance at the Super Bowl.#DallasCowboys pic.twitter.com/fFQW2HoXaK — Mike Poland (@kenfigkowboy) June 3, 2024 Best known for:Novacek was best known for being a dependable and clutch receiving tight end during the Cowboys’ Super Bowl run in the ’90s, serving as a key third-down and red-zone target in a star-studded offense. Troy Aikman completed an incredible 23 of 30 passes (76.7%) for 337 yards, 2 touchdowns, and an interception. Jay Novacek, Michael Irvin and Alvin Harper all had more than 100 yards receiving. pic.twitter.com/6hBmWnghYk — 90’s Dallas Cowboys (@90s_cowboys) January 9, 2023 Lesser known fact:Before becoming an NFL standout, Novacek was a college track and field All-American in the decathlon and pole vault at Wyoming, setting school records. This athletic versatility helped shape his fluid, agile style as a receiving tight end. ✭ COUNTDOWN TO KICKOFF ✭ With 100 days to go until the #Cowboys kickoff the season against the #Eagles, we are counting down with a @BloggingTheBoys Top-100 consensus ranking. We asked staffers to give in their top-100, here is: DAY 56Jay Novacek#DallasCowboys… pic.twitter.com/BVvBzoAgBE — Mike Poland (@kenfigkowboy) July 10, 2025

Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images Tyler Guyton is one of the most important people in the Cowboys building this year. The Dallas Cowboys have been known for one thing over the last decade or so. They have an excellent track record when it comes to drafting offensive linemen in the first round. It all started in 2011 when the Cowboys took left tackle Tyron Smith. A Hall of Fame-level career would follow. In 2024, the Cowboys went the offensive line route in the first round again with Tyler Guyton, a right tackle who would play on the left side in Dallas. Guyton would have his share of hiccups as a rookie. As year two approaches, Guyton has one key factor by his side, Tyron Smith. The two have been grinding behind the scenes to get the former Oklahoma Sooner as ready as possible as he faces an important season in terms of his development. Per Smith, Guyton is taking the necessary steps to take his game to the next level. He wants to put in the work. He just needs a little technique work which he’s doing right now. I feel like it’s going to be a different type of year for him to slow the game down and get the rookie nerves out. I think he’s building more confidence in his technique because he’s learning a lot more now. Guyton will certainly need to apply what he’s learned once the pads come on for real games. As the left tackle, he’s responsible for the blind side of quarterback Dak Prescott, who is coming off a torn hamstring and a history of injuries as of late. Keeping him upright is paramount, making Guyton’s development essential. Smith played 13 seasons in Dallas. He dealt with a plethora of injuries that slowed him down in his latter years, but when healthy, Smith was one of the best left tackles in the league, and at one time was the standard. He ended up with eight Pro Bowl nods and garnered All-Pro honors five times. Although he has some talent, Guyton will need to keep his feet on the pavement to reach the level of play that Smith achieved. However, he has the full support of the best that’s ever played his position in Big D. I’ve told him before, ‘I want you to be better than how I ever did it.’ It makes me feel good that another guy is wanting to strive to be better than me. All eyes will be on Guyton in 2025 and with good reason. If the next step is taken, the Cowboys’ offense has a great shot of being productive.

Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images How likely do you think it is that the Cowboys give George Pickens an extension? It’s only a couple of short weeks before the Dallas Cowboys head out to Oxnard, California to begin training camp for the 2025 NFL season. The Cowboys will bring along George Pickens, the wide receiver from the Pittsburgh Steelers that the team acquired in a trade that was essentially for a third-round pick. Pickens comes to Dallas on the final year of his rookie contract. When the trade was made and in the weeks after, it became obvious that the team was going to wait on any kind of discussion around a new contract until after the 2025 season. That leaves Pickens as a possible one-year rental. Is that the Cowboys’ plan? Or are they just waiting to see how he does in the offense until making a move to secure his services long-term? There are so many ways this could go from Pickens having a poor season and the Cowboys letting him walk, to the team signing him to a long-term contract of high value. There are also possibilities of franchise-tagging him as a free agent after a good season or letting him go to get a compensatory pick. There are so many options. The team will be influenced by how the season goes, so it is very hard to say what the outcome of the situation will be. But that has never stopped us from asking questions. So today, we ask a simple question – Will George Pickens be on the Cowboys roster for the 2026 season? Vote in the poll then hit the comments and let us know how the scenario will play out. Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NFL. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Dallas Cowboys fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys. Please take our survey

Photo by Todd F. Michalek/Syracuse Athletics/University Images via Getty Images Who is your early pet cat for Dallas Cowboys training camp? Less than two weeks separate us from training camp beginning for the Dallas Cowboys and it goes without saying that we are all ready for it to kick off. Football organizes our lives. By having the weekly regimen and process leading up to a game we can design everything else to work ahead of it. Simply put, football rules. Training camp is a little bit different, though. There are things happening in a bit more frenetic way with practices happening day after day (relatively speaking). There will be surprises and shocks along the way and some of them will be the emergence of players that we do not necessarily see coming. Some of these players will be truly shocking and impossible to believe when we look back at things. Other players who rise though will be ones who we, or you specifically, believed in. They have some sort of quality that makes you believe they are going to forge a path. Bill Parcells used to refer to players of this ilk as “pet cats” as a sign of affection (or something like that). A pet cat is a player who is generally underrated but one that has your eye, love and admiration. Alijah Clark, the Syracuse safety who the Cowboys signed as an undrafted free agent and who is pictured above, is going to be a popular name along those lines. But who is your pet cat? Why? Let us know in the comments below.

Mark Hoffman / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images The latest news surrounding the Dallas Cowboys. Dallas Cowboys rookie predicted to make Day 1 impact on offense – Josh Sanchez, Sports Illustrated Dallas’ number one draft pick is expected to make a day one impact. The Dallas Cowboys made their new offensive identity clear with the team’s first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, selecting Tyler Booker out of Alabama to signal a new focus on improving the running game. Booker is a mauler who is expected to step in immediately and earn a starting role at right guard, replacing future Hall of Famer Zack Martin. Looking ahead to his rookie season, Bleacher Report laid out the outlook for each 2025 first-round pick with high expectations for Booker from Day 1. “The Cowboys needed some help in the trenches to improve their rushing attack, which ranked 27th in the league last year. That’s where Booker’s nasty demeanor comes in as he’s a mauler in the trenches and should start right away in Dallas,” the article states. “That said, the Alabama product will be flipping sides of the center since he was primarily a left guard in college, where two-time Pro Bowler Tyler Smith lines up. Also, four-year veteran Robert Jones started 17 games in Miami last season, providing some insurance if the rookie isn’t ready.” If Booker can live up to the expectations, the Cowboys could have one of the most well-rounded offenses in the league. The team struggled a season ago on the ground, but with a revamped running back room and bolstering the offensive line we’ll have to see how it all plays out. Mailbag: Advantage to delaying contract talks? – Mickey Spagnola & Kyle Youmans, DallasCowboys.com Is there a method to Dallas’ madness of delaying contract negotiations? It’s now obvious that waiting to re-sign top players is the modus operandi for the Cowboys. We’ve seen it with CeeDee Lamb, Dak Prescott, Zack Martin, Ezekiel Elliott and now with Micah Parsons. But why? Parsons seems eager to sign. And in the end, these players get what they want anyway, and everyone seems happy. Is there any kind of advantage to dragging the process out? – Kelly Walters/Oklahoma City, OK Mickey: Now slow down there a bit Kelly. First of all, how do you know what Micah and his representative are asking for? How much guarantee are they asking for? All of it? Like 75 percent? Those are always negotiable. Sometimes the more guarantee, the less total package. The players don’t always get what they want. CeeDee was asking for more total package than he ended up getting and more guarantee. The Cowboys don’t necessarily drag these negotiations out. And say, if you owe someone like $50 million dollars, do you pay that before the bill is due. Every million dollars against the cap is meaningful. Like you can get three players for just more than $3 million. So, let’s not assume we all know what the negotiations are looking like, because guarantee you agents always start off asking for way more than the going rate. Always remember, this money is not Jerry’s money, it’s the Dallas Cowboys salary cap money, and you should demand them be frugal as possible. Kyle: My first piece of advice, remember that not everything is as it seems when it comes to contract negotiations. While Parsons himself seems eager to sign, he has an entire party of people that may want this to play out deep into the offseason, allowing other contracts to fall in line first (Trey Hendrickson for example). It also doesn’t mean the Cowboys have put off signing Parsons either. While the last report of talks came prior to free agency, that could mean there’s a framework in place that could resolve quickly when talks resume. To answer the question though, there’s no real benefit to letting contract talks linger this long, but there’s also no real rush to get them done either. Execs, coaches, scouts rank the NFL’s top 10 edge rushers for 2025 – Jeremy Fowler, ESPN Where Parsons ranks among edge players in an ESPN poll. 3. Micah Parsons, Dallas Cowboys Highest ranking: 1 | Lowest ranking: 6 Age: 26 | Last year’s ranking: 3 The numbers say Parsons has a compelling case for No. 1. His 126 pressures and 31.0% pass rush win rate since 2023 lead the NFL. He has done this despite facing a 31.5% double-team rate in 2024, highest among edge rushers on this list. He generated a league-high 19.1% pressure rate last season and led the Cowboys with a 24.2% pressure share, the eighth-highest clip in the NFL. His pass rush win rate of 25.3% ranked second overall. And, oh yeah, Parsons is the second player in NFL history to produce 12 or more sacks in each of his first four pro seasons (White is the other). He has done all this as a hybrid off-ball linebacker who transitioned to a pure pass-rushing role. His speed and bend are obvious, but he does more than that. “He does it with countermoves and the ability to finish,” an NFC personnel evaluator said. “He rarely misses when he’s within arm’s reach of the quarterback. His run defense needs work, though.” Added an NFL personnel director: “Explosiveness, motor, violence, can align inside and beat [interior offensive linemen] with first-step quickness. He’s such a tone setter that everyone else feeds off his energy.” Cowboys agree to extension with City of Oxnard for training camp through 2030 – RJ Ochoa, BloggingTheBoys.com Cowboys will at least finish out the decade having camp in Cali. The Dallas Cowboys are scheduled to report to training camp in Oxnard, California on July 20th. In about two weeks time, football things will officially be happening. Oxnard has become synonymous with the Cowboys and summertime. The Cowboys have made their way out to the west coast for camp almost every year this century and for those who have

Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images How many Pro Bowlers do you think the Cowboys will have this season? A few days ago we published the first part of our series on Cowboys ‘blue-chip’ players. Here is a refresher on what constitutes a blue-chip talent. The bare minimum should be an All-Pro level talent. Pro Bowls have become more subjective to the point where the bar to get in has been lowered. All-Pro nominations are harder to come by, considering there is usually one player picked for each position outside of wide receiver, the defensive line, and the secondary. Outside of being considered a first- or second-team All-Pro, a blue-chip player needs to be someone a team builds around and is a cornerstone player for the franchise. They should also be in the conversation to be the best at their position. Those attributes must be a package deal; you should not have one without the other. For part two of this series, we will examine which Dallas Cowboys players could become blue-chip players in 2025. The names in this category are just outside the team’s premier talent. Players below have shown flashes that when they are at their peak, they can be considered one of the top ten players at their positions, but without doing so at a consistent level. If things can become more consistent for them this season, there’s a chance they join CeeDee Lamb, Micah Parsons, Tyler Smith, and Brandon Aubrey as blue-chip players. Chris Jones-Imagn Images Players who could become Blue-Chip players in 2025: Dak Prescott: Coming off his MVP runner-up 2023 season, Dak Prescott was considered a blue-chip player for Dallas. However, after missing another season due to injury, there can’t be the same shoe-in assumption that he gets back to that level without showing he can repeat it on the field. Pro Football Focus graded Prescott as the second-highest (90.8) quarterback during the 2023 regular season. He finished with 36 passing touchdowns, leading the NFL. He also had 38 big-time throws (a pass with excellent ball location and timing, generally thrown further down the field and/or into a tighter window), first among his peers. During his MVP-level campaign, Prescott just had Lamb on the outside as the alpha of the pass-catching group. Based on surrounding talent alone, there should be enough confidence that Prescott can be that player again with Lamb and Pickens as his outside weapons and a healthy, up-and-coming offensive line. Prescott’s not being considered a blue-chip player is not a slight to him and his decade-long stint in Dallas. It’s just an exclusive group to be a part of. There are only a handful of blue-chip talents at quarterback around the NFL, like Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, Joe Burrow, and Lamar Jackson. Prescott sits with Justin Herbert, Matthew Stafford, and Jalen Hurts on being just outside the group, but nothing says he can’t get there this season if he’s healthy and the Brian Schottenheimer scheme plays to his strengths. Osa Odighizuwa: One of the first orders of business this offseason was getting a long-term contract extension done with Osa Odighizuwa, whose goal was to stay in Dallas and keep playing alongside his teammates. Now one of the more seasoned players in the locker room, Odighizuwa, along with Parsons, leads and mentors the younger players. Sometimes, it takes a bit for defensive tackles to reach their potential (unless you’re Aaron Donald). It took New York Giants defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence three years to be voted in as a Pro Bowl player at his position. Now, Lawrence is in the conversation as one of the best overall defensive players in the NFL. It would be great if Odighizuwa got to Lawrence’s level. Still, even if he can be considered a top-five player at his position, that would be a win for Dallas, which could use better play from the interior of their defensive line outside of No. 97. Tyler Booker will have every Cowboys fan ready to run through a brick wall. This answer is absolutely amazing https://t.co/aYJofntMHe pic.twitter.com/OJSNTTLJT8 — B/R Gridiron (@brgridiron) April 25, 2025 Tyler Booker: We have seen this storyline play out before. The Cowboys draft a right guard in the first round as a day one starter who starts his career as one of the best at his position. Tyler Booker has big shoes to fill in the absence of Zack Martin, but his story could be the same. The Cowboys first-round pick was considered one of the best offensive linemen in the draft and is a physical player in pass protection and run blocking. With all the prime time games and matchups against defensive tackles like Lawrence in New York, Jalen Carter in Philadelphia, and Daron Payne in Washington, everyone will know right away how good Booker can be. There’s a feeling that when the Cowboys play on Sunday Night Football, Cris Collinsworth will be doing his best John Madden impression, circling his jersey in yellow highlighter, calling him an “up-and-coming star” in the NFL. George Pickens: GP3 is poised for a career year in Dallas, despite being listed as “No. 2” on the depth chart. This is one of those times when numbers can be misleading. Lamb and Pickens have been open about the idea that there is no strict pecking order for each; rather, it’s more of a “1A 1B” approach in Dallas. #Cowboys CeeDee Lamb on George Pickens “we’re both ones”pic.twitter.com/tAbd4twfhr — Brandon Loree (@Brandoniswrite) May 18, 2025 Pickens is as talented as it comes to a player at the wide receiver position. The questions around him have never been about what he can contribute on the field. It’s about the character off the field and if he can gel with a locker room. So far, things have been good for Pickens. His teammates, including Prescott, have praised his transition to Dallas. Sometimes, it can be about the right fit and situation for NFL players. Prescott is by far the best quarterback Pickens has played

Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images We’re counting down to the season opener (Day 57) with some Cowboys history We’re counting down the days until the Dallas Cowboys battle the Philadelphia Eagles in the season opener of the 2025 NFL season. To pass the time and mark the days, we running through 100 Days of Cowboys. So sit back and enjoy some Cowboys history while we countdown to football. Today – number 57. Miles Austin Born: June 30, 1984. Summit, New JerseyPosition: Wide Receiver Dallas Cowboys: 2006-2013Awards: Pro Bowl– 2009, 2010 Photo by Tom Hauck/Getty Images Miles Austin played wide receiver for the Dallas Cowboys from 2006 to 2013, joining the team as an undrafted free agent out of Monmouth University. After years of contributing primarily on special teams and as a depth receiver, Austin broke out in 2009 with a franchise-record of ten receptions for 250 receiving yards in a single game against the Chiefs. He went on to earn two Pro Bowl selections and became Tony Romo’s top target for several seasons, known for his precise route running, strong hands, and ability to gain yards after the catch. Former Cowboys WR Miles Austin is now the 49ers offensive quality control coach. On Sunday, he’ll be trying to get a ring by helping his team beat the Chiefs. Did you know that Austin’s first career start came against KC, where he had 10 catches for 250 yards and 2 TDs? pic.twitter.com/xw2oxZ9Hej — Dan Rogers (@DannyPhantom24) February 1, 2020 Best known for:Austin was best known for his remarkable rise from undrafted free agent to Pro Bowl wide receiver, highlighted by a record-setting performance in 2009, leading the NFC in receiving. 1⃣4⃣ Miles Austin#CowboysNation #DallasCowboys Dallas Cowboys WR/KR Miles Austin returns a kick 93 yards for a TD in 2007! Bet you forgot that Miles wore number 14 before he switched to 19 @MilesAustinIII pic.twitter.com/9er7Nc9Tix — Dallas Cowboys Collaboration (@mailman_phil) August 26, 2021 Lesser known fact:After retiring, Austin transitioned into coaching and front-office roles, including working as a scout. ✭ COUNTDOWN TO KICKOFF ✭ With 100 days to go until the #Cowboys kickoff the season against the #Eagles, we are counting down with a @BloggingTheBoys Top-100 consensus ranking. We asked staffers to give in their top-100, here is: DAY 57Miles Austin#DallasCowboys… pic.twitter.com/yVJ6zvqTl4 — Mike Poland (@kenfigkowboy) July 9, 2025

Jason Parkhurst-USA TODAY Sports The Cowboys will continue to hold training camp in Oxnard through 2030. The Dallas Cowboys are scheduled to report to training camp in Oxnard, California on July 20th. In about two weeks time, football things will officially be happening. Oxnard has become synonymous with the Cowboys and summertime. The Cowboys have made their way out to the west coast for camp almost every year this century and for those who have been it is easy to see why. Weather is obviously pristine in California and while the summer sun is a factor wherever you are, the other elements involved make training for the NFL a lot less difficult than doing so in the Lone Star State. Players have spoken many times about how much they love it, and as of Tuesday we know that this will continue to be the case. The Dallas Morning News reported that the Cowboys have struck a deal with the City of Oxnard to continue holding camp there through 2030. Cowboys agree to five-year extension keeping future training camps in Oxnard https://t.co/LYupYNDJ5P — Joseph Hoyt (@JoeJHoyt) July 8, 2025 A lot has changed around the Cowboys since they first began holding camp in Oxnard and one of those things is their world headquarters. The Star is almost a decade old itself and has grown substantially, so much so that it holds the second part (so to speak) of training camp for Dallas after they break in California. To this point the Cowboys will “only” host 16 practices (as far as those open to the public) in Oxnard this year. History has seen the Cowboys train in Austin, Wichita Falls and San Antonio. Those areas and any others interested in holding training camp for the team will have to wait until 2031 for an opportunity to do so.

Chris Jones-Imagn Images Do you think CeeDee Lamb will set any career highs in 2025? If the Dallas Cowboys are going to have any semblance of success in 2025 it is going to be because the most important and talented players on their roster stepped up. This list of players obviously includes wide receiver CeeDee Lamb. An argument can be made that Lamb has been the most consistently great player on the Cowboys overall since the team drafted him five years ago (Micah Parsons is probably the true answer, but he arrived a year later). While last season was a dip in production relative to the stellar numbers that he put up in 2023, he was still quite productive, especially considering the fact that he only had eight games to work with quarterback Dak Prescott. Here are CeeDee Lamb’s career highs in receptions, yards, yards per reception and touchdowns: Receptions: 135 (2023) Yards: 1,749 (2023) Yards Per Reception: 13.9 (2021) Receiving Touchdowns: 12 (2023) Do you think there is any way that Lamb is able to top any of these numbers during the 2025 season? Having George Pickens opposite of him is going to help in terms of coverage that will be taken away, but it is also going to hinder in that Pickens will obviously be productive in his own right. Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images The latest news surrounding the Dallas Cowboys Cowboys’ Dak Prescott says he’s ‘full go’ for training camp – Todd Archer, ESPN Dak Prescott has been clicking with wide receiver George Pickens this offseason. A few weeks ago, Prescott held his annual getaway with his skill players, returning to Lake Oconee in Georgia for a few days of on-field work and off-field sessions with O2X, a performance group made up of former military personnel that helps deal with stress management and resiliency. “It was as beneficial as any trip has been,” Prescott said. Perhaps the reason was the ability to spend more time with George Pickens, who was acquired in a trade from the Pittsburgh Steelers in May, as well as CeeDee Lamb, who was not around the team last year in a contract dispute. “To be the guy that gets to get them the ball, it’s exciting as hell because you can turn on the OTA tapes and one of the guys, the ball is in the air [for] and [the] other one has got his had up celebrating already,” Prescott said. “We’ve just got to continue to grow that and continue to make sure that that’s trending the right way.” The retreat helped Prescott and Pickens get to know each other off the field more. Prescott was impressed at how much Pickens knew from his days at Mississippi State. “That knowledge, that involvement, it shows you a guy that loves football and that, to me, deletes a lot of the things you heard in the past about him,” Prescott said. “Great dude, loves his teammates and excited as hell for this season. I know he is and I know he’s happy to be in a fresh new spot and excited for what he’s going to do for us.” Who has the most to prove in his contract year – Staff writers, DallasCowboys.com Contact years are always interesting. 9) Who has the most to prove in his contract year? Mickey: Will give you three, almost a dead heat. First, wide receiver George Pickens. While Pickens is in the final year of his four-year contract having signed with Pittsburgh as a second-round draft choice, the dynamic receiver must show he can be a co-No. 1 receiver along with CeeDee Lamb and maybe most of all that he has matured, putting those emotional outbursts the Steelers detested behind him. This guy has the ability to become one of the top free agent receivers next year, meaning big money never really achieved as a second-round pick. Second, defensive end Sam Williams. The Cowboys were expecting big things from Sam last summer before suffering that torn ACL during training camp, missing the entire season. Here is another second-round draft choice with first-round ability who will have a chance to show he’s one of the top defensive ends in the NFL. Seems he is successfully rehabbing following knee surgery and will get every chance to demonstrate his ability. Now must take advantage of this opportunity to further market himself in free agency for 2026. And lastly cornerback Kaiir Elam, Buffalo’s former first round draft choice the Cowboys acquired in a trade. Another guy with a great opportunity to reset his career course the final year of his deal. Even when Revel and Diggs return, the Cowboys still will need another corner. Kyle: Without a doubt for me, it’s George Pickens. No one could see more benefit or more loss by how their 2025 season goes than the Cowboys’ newest weapon. He has quickly become one of the most feared receivers in football after just three years in the NFL but had a sour ending in Pittsburgh which resulted in his trade to Dallas. Because of this, his season could set a league-wide perception in one of two ways. The ideal scenario would see Pickens piecing together an incredible season and pairing with Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb to create an offensive core for Dallas. This would prove that the rumors in Pittsburgh were nothing more than situational frustration and doesn’t define who Pickens is as a player. If he’s able to do so, he’ll prove doubters across the league wrong and take his spot in line to sign a massive second contract anywhere he wants next season. Ranking NFL WR, TE, RB groups for 2025: Best and worst teams – Bill Barnwell, ESPN A ranking of the rushing/receiving playmakers (RB, WR, TE) for each team. 11. Dallas Cowboys 2024 rank: 18 | 2023 rank: 7 Last season was a step backward for CeeDee Lamb, but it seems reasonable to chalk up some of his decline to Dak Prescott’s injuries. Even in what felt like a down year before a shoulder injury led the Cowboys to wave the white flag, he ranked 17th among wide receivers in yards per route run. Working so often out of the slot, he benefits from having a quarterback with elite accuracy and a willingness to put the ball into tight spaces like Prescott; he might be a little more susceptible to a change under center than Justin Jefferson or Ja’Marr Chase would, which represents a very tiny tier gap at the top of the wide receiver food chain. Lamb will finally get some help on the outside, where George Pickens should — on what can only be described as the most paper-ish substance imaginable — be an upgrade on the likes of Michael Gallup and Brandin Cooks. Thrown a steady stream of back-shoulders and 50/50 balls in Pittsburgh, Pickens had the second-lowest expected catch rate (53.3%) and the sixth-highest catch rate over expectation (plus-6.1%) among wideouts with at least 200 targets over the past three seasons. Moving from Pittsburgh to Dallas should boost Pickens’ efficiency, but he won’t have a clear path to as massive of a target share. Given what has happened to many Steelers receivers when they’ve left the protection of the Mike Tomlin behavioral cocoon, it’s only realistic to wonder whether