If there was one factor clear from the Cowboys’ 2024 offseason of “all-in,” it is that they do not actually make huge, daring strikes anymore. Jerry Jones can speak an excellent sport on the subject of his soccer staff, however when the time involves act, the ‘Boys usually don’t.
Maybe, that is lastly altering.
They made an unquestionably daring transfer on Wednesday morning, buying and selling for proficient, however generally troublesome receiver George Pickens. The previous Steeler is strictly the kind of receiver they desperately wanted. The truth is, he’s the kind of receiver they’ve wanted for a number of years.
And sure, it’s honest to surprise what took them so lengthy. However at this level, Cowboys followers must be thrilled that it occurred in any respect.
Dallas has had a evident gap, apparent to everybody however them, since they traded away Amari Cooper in 2022 and left All-Professional receiver CeeDee Lamb alone on an offensive island. Lamb has continued to provide at an elite stage. However to assist him, they’ve rolled out Michael Gallup, Noah Brown, Brandin Cooks, and even Jalen Tolbert within the position of Robin to Lamb’s Batman.
None of them have offered a lot assist in any respect.
The truth is, Lamb has averaged 114 catches for 1,434 yards and 9 touchdowns over the previous three years — greater than doubling the typical output of the second receiver on the Cowboys’ roster (49 catches, 607 yards, 7 touchdowns). That’s a ridiculous hole, made much more ridiculous by the truth that in every of these three seasons, a decent finish really completed second in receiving for Dallas, and a operating again was third in 2023.
The shortage of a real No. 2 wideout made the Dallas offense very predictable. It restricted the choices for quarterback Dak Prescott. It put loopy stress on Lamb, as a result of if a protection was in a position to take him away, even just a bit bit, the Cowboys turned a really beatable staff — one thing that was actually apparent once they performed good defenses within the playoffs in 2022 and 2023.
Including the speedy 6-3, 200-pound Pickens has an opportunity to alter all that. On his personal, the 24-year-old is a professional No. 1 choice. Taking part in with Lamb, he’s immediately an elite No. 2. In 2023, he led the NFL with 18.1 yards per catch, hauling in 63 passes for 1,140 yards and 5 touchdowns from the likes of Kenny Pickett, Mason Rudolph and Mitch Trubisky.
Simply think about what he can do catching passes from Prescott.
The fee to amass Pickens wasn’t ridiculous, both. The Cowboys obtained him by sending a 2026 third-round decide and a 2027 fifth-rounder to the Steelers in return for Pickens and a 2027 sixth-round decide. It’s just a little bit excessive if the Cowboys consider him as a rental — he’s coming into the ultimate yr of his rookie contract and is due $3.6 million. However now they’ve the choice to attempt to signal him long run if every part works out.
Even when it’s just for the 2025 season, although, a younger receiver with the expertise that he has is greater than price that price.
However the boldness of the transfer was much less in regards to the value and even the participant, and extra in regards to the particular person. Pickens made loads of undesirable waves in his three years in Pittsburgh, which is why the membership was open to dumping somebody with a lot potential. He continuously clashed with the Steelers’ teaching employees final season, protesting the way in which he was (or wasn’t) getting used. He even wore eye black throughout an early-season Sunday evening sport with the phrases “Open F—ing At all times” inscribed to make his level.
Pickens was advised to “develop up” by Steelers coach Mike Tomlin after he drew two unsportsmanlike conduct penalties in a Week 13 sport. And that message apparently didn’t get by as a result of he reportedly confirmed up late to the Steelers’ Christmas Day sport the following week, arriving lower than 90 minutes earlier than kickoff.
That’s not the sort of participant the trendy Cowboys normally embrace. It’s extra of the boat-rocking variety that they had throughout their free-wheeling Tremendous Bowl days within the ‘90s. It’s actually not the sort of potential downside Jones figured to be keen to dump on his new, first-time head coach, Brian Schottenheimer.
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However give the 82-year-old proprietor credit score for taking a danger and doing what’s essential to fortify his membership, even when he is two or three years late. It doesn’t fairly make up for the way in which the Cowboys sat on their arms final offseason whereas a bumper crop of reasonably priced operating backs littered free company. And it doesn’t make up for being idle as a boatload of high-quality receivers had been traded elsewhere over the previous couple of years.
The shortage of a No. 2 vast receiver alone wasn’t why the Dallas Cowboys have frequently fizzled out lately. Nevertheless it’s a proxy for his or her failure to handle apparent wants. These had been missed alternatives, dangers price taking, and sitting patiently solely served to increase the Cowboys’ agonizing, 29-year Tremendous Bowl drought.
Including Pickens possible isn’t sufficient to make the Cowboys Tremendous Bowl contenders. They’re nonetheless in all probability the third staff within the NFC East. However the Lamb-Pickens tandem eclipses the Commanders’ new Terry McLaurin–Deebo Samuel pairing and will even problem the Eagles’ A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith for the most effective duo within the league. Extra importantly, it offers their passing sport greater than a preventing likelihood.
Including Pickens was an apparent transfer to make as soon as the Cowboys realized he was obtainable. They’re good for betting on him to provide greater than disrupt. It is a part of the value of going “all-in.”
Plus, it’s about time they did one thing huge to again up their huge phrases.
Ralph Vacchiano is an NFL Reporter for FOX Sports activities. He spent the earlier six years overlaying the Giants and Jets for SNY TV in New York, and earlier than that, 16 years overlaying the Giants and the NFL for the New York Every day Information. Comply with him on Twitter at @RalphVacchiano.
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