CeeDee Lamb may have just revealed Cowboys' long-term plans for George Pickens

The Dallas Cowboys have long wanted to upgrade the No. 2 wide receiver position opposite CeeDee Lamb. That’s why they traded for Brandin Cooks during the 2023 offseason and added Jonathan Mingo via trade last offseason. But neither player has adequately filled that role, and Dallas was hopeful they could address it in the 2025 NFL Draft.  

Tetairoa McMillan was a likely target at No. 12, but when he went off the board to Carolina at No. 8, the Cowboys decided to pass on wide receiver altogether during the draft. The Cowboys had been speaking with the Steelers before the draft about a potential trade for George Pickens, but once they failed to select a single receiver, a trade made even more sense.

Pickens is an incredibly unique talent, but questions about his maturity and professionalism caused the Steelers to move on. However, Dallas was willing to take the gamble on Pickens as he enters a contract year, knowing full well that this could be a one-year rental. The expectation all along has been that the Cowboys and Pickens are both willing to play out the year without a long-term agreement, and that is the best outcome for both parties.

Given the unpredictability of Pickens, that seems like a wise decision. But according to CeeDee Lamb, this is far from a one-year rental. In his post-practice press conference, Lamb made it clear that he and Pickens will be together for more than one season. And that certainly raised eyebrows considering Pickens’ contract situation.

CeeDee Lamb teases the possibility of the Cowboys re-signing George Pickens

The idea of Pickens being in Dallas long-term is a really fun thought. He is only 24 years old and on paper, he is the perfect receiver to pair with Lamb. Pickens does his best work as an X-receiver and thrives on deep balls down the sideline.

Meanwhile, Lamb is a do-it-all threat, but he does his best work in the slot or as a moveable Z-receiver. Their games mesh well with one another and their contrasting styles should make it impossible for defenses to stop them.

The big issue here is can the Cowboys afford to pay Pickens what he’s worth? Well, that likely depends on what type of season he has in 2025. If Pickens can keep his head on straight and prove that he has matured, it’s not unreasonable to think he could command upwards of $25 million per season on the open market. That would be tough for Dallas to pull off, considering how much money they are already paying Dak Prescott, Lamb, and soon-to-be Tyler Smith.

However, the Cowboys could potentially get a discount here given Pickens’ relationship with Lamb. And if the two can play up to their talent in 2025, Pickens might not want to leave Dallas and play for his third team in three seasons.

Everything is on the table for Pickens and the Cowboys going into the 2025 season, but Lamb seems pretty confident that this won’t be the only time we see this tandem together.