Cowboys deep-threat receiver acquired from Pittsburgh midseason 2025, franchise-tagged for 2026.
George Pickens went to Dallas in an October 2025 trade that included a 2026 second-round pick going to Pittsburgh. He immediately became the Cowboys' big-play complement to CeeDee Lamb, catching 96 passes for 1,429 yards over the partial season. Dallas franchise-tagged him in March 2026 at a $24 million salary.
Path to the league
Georgia receiver whose college career was interrupted by an ACL tear. Steelers took him 52nd overall in 2022. Three seasons in Pittsburgh produced 200 catches and a reputation for one-handed grabs and sideline disputes with teammates.
Career highlights
2025 Pro Bowl. 1,429 receiving yards in a partial Dallas season (third in NFL despite playing 13 games for the Cowboys). 2023 NFL highlight-of-the-year award for a one-handed catch. 4,500-plus career receiving yards.
2025 season and trade
Started the season with 24 catches for 380 yards in seven Steelers games before the deadline-week trade. Dallas paid up because Brandin Cooks had retired and they needed downfield speed. Pickens caught 72 passes for 1,050 yards in 10 Cowboys games and immediately became one of Prescott's preferred end-zone targets.
Sources
- Wikipedia: George Pickens
- Pro Football Reference: George Pickens
Statistics
2025 season and career2025 Season · Receiving
17 games played▶Receiving · career
| Year | Team | GP | REC | YDS | AVG | TD | LNG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | cowboys | 17 | 93 | 1,429 | 15.4 | 9 | 45 |
| 2024 | steelers | 14 | 59 | 900 | 15.3 | 3 | 44 |
| 2023 | steelers | 17 | 63 | 1,140 | 18.1 | 5 | 86 |
| 2022 | steelers | 17 | 52 | 801 | 15.4 | 4 | 42 |
▶Rushing · career
| Year | Team | GP | CAR | YDS | AVG | TD | LNG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | steelers | 14 | 2 | -6 | -3.0 | 0 | 4 |
| 2023 | steelers | 17 | 3 | 18 | 6.0 | 0 | 16 |
| 2022 | steelers | 17 | 3 | 24 | 8.0 | 1 | 22 |
Player Profile
Background
- Position
- Wide Receiver
- Group
- offense
- College
- Georgia
- Hometown
- Hoover, AL, USA
- Age
- 25
- Status
- active
Latest news about George Pickens
All news →George Pickens Shows Up for Cowboys Minicamp, Says He's Fine Playing on the Franchise Tag
The receiver skipped the voluntary work but reported for mandatory minicamp without hesitation, and Brian Schottenheimer liked what he saw.
100 days to kickoff: the MVP picks, breakout sophomores, and injury timelines that will define 2026
The season opens September 9 with a Super Bowl LX rematch. Here's the state of the league at the 100-day mark, from Mahomes' comeback to the moves that just reshaped three contenders.
Both topped 1,000 yards. The Cowboys still have to choose between CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens.
Pickens is playing 2026 on a $27.3 million franchise tag with no long-term talks. Dallas is $30 million over the cap and already pays Lamb $34 million a year. Lamb has offered to restructure to keep them both.
Are the Cowboys really Super Bowl contenders? Vegas isn't buying it
Dallas opens at +3500, 17th on the board, after a 7-9-1 season, an aging Dak Prescott and a defense still searching for an identity.
