- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 465,613
- Reaction score
- 44
The Dallas Cowboys didn't select a receiver in the 2025 NFL Draft but made a major move at the position less than two weeks after the event.
Dallas acquired George Pickens from the Pittsburgh Steelers for a 2026 third-round pick and a 2027 pick swap, the Cowboys announced Wednesday.
Pickens, 24, was a second-round pick by the Steelers in the 2022 NFL Draft. He spent his first three seasons in Pittsburgh and developed into a strong starting receiver. He led the team in receiving yards in each of the last two seasons, averaging 67 catches, 1,119 yards and four touchdowns per 17 games played.
Pickens is expected to provide the Cowboys with a major upgrade for their receiving corps. What exactly will his role be with the team? Here's a look at how the young wide-out fits in Dallas' receiver room for the 2025 season.
The Cowboys currently have 13 receivers on their 90-man roster. Below is a look at the projected pecking order among those receivers:
Lamb, 26, is one of the NFL's best receivers. He has posted four consecutive seasons with at least 1,102 receiving yards and was named an All-Pro in 2023 after recording 135 receptions, 1,749 yards and 12 touchdowns. He has great chemistry with Dak Prescott and should remain Dallas' top receiver for the duration of his four-year, $136 million contract.
Pickens should slot right into the No. 2 receiver role with the Cowboys. The 6-3, 200-pound receiver is a great contested catch playmaker who should quickly establish himself as a downfield threat after averaging 16.3 yards per reception in three years with the Steelers. He and Lamb will create a physical receiving tandem that will be difficult for opposing cornerbacks to guard.
GEORGE PICKENS TRADE GRADES: Cowboys land WR upgrade, Steelers create hole
The Cowboys will probably hold an open competition for the No. 3 receiver role, but Tolbert may be the early favorite to get the most snaps. He played 76.17% of Dallas' offensive snaps last season, good for the most among receivers on the team, and set career-best marks in catches (49), receiving yards (610) and touchdowns (7).
Turpin is an explosive playmaker who could also factor into the race for the No. 3 receiver role. He averaged 13.5 yards per reception last season and has the speed and separation skills needed to complement Dallas' bigger-bodied weapons well. That said, Turpin's role as an All-Pro return man along with his 5-9, 153-pound frame may make him a better rotational gadget weapon for the Cowboys.
The Cowboys eased Mingo – a second-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft – into action after acquiring him in a midseason trade with the Carolina Panthers. Could he see a bigger role in 2025? It's possible. That said, the 6-2, 220-pound receiver doesn't complement Lamb and Pickens quite as well as Tolbert and Turpin, so he may find himself as more of a backup for the bigger-bodied weapons.
While there appears to be a clear line of demarcation for Dallas' top five receivers, the back end of the depth chart features wide-open competition for spots on the 53-man roster and practice squad. Below is a look at the remainder of the players competing for jobs with the Cowboys:
Among the group, Brooks and Flournoy both played the most for the Cowboys last season, with Brooks playing 31.68% of the offensive snaps and Flournoy seeing 13.32%. That could give them the edge in the battle for the final depth chart spots.
Among the rest, Campbell is the most interesting player to watch. The six-year veteran had just six catches for 30 yards and a touchdown in five games with the Philadelphia Eagles last season but recorded 63 catches for 623 yards and three touchdowns with the Indianapolis Colts in 2022. He's a versatile weapon who could challenge for the backup job in the slot.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Cowboys WR depth chart: How George Pickens fits with new team
Continue reading...
Dallas acquired George Pickens from the Pittsburgh Steelers for a 2026 third-round pick and a 2027 pick swap, the Cowboys announced Wednesday.
Pickens, 24, was a second-round pick by the Steelers in the 2022 NFL Draft. He spent his first three seasons in Pittsburgh and developed into a strong starting receiver. He led the team in receiving yards in each of the last two seasons, averaging 67 catches, 1,119 yards and four touchdowns per 17 games played.
Pickens is expected to provide the Cowboys with a major upgrade for their receiving corps. What exactly will his role be with the team? Here's a look at how the young wide-out fits in Dallas' receiver room for the 2025 season.
Cowboys WR depth chart
The Cowboys currently have 13 receivers on their 90-man roster. Below is a look at the projected pecking order among those receivers:
1. CeeDee Lamb
Lamb, 26, is one of the NFL's best receivers. He has posted four consecutive seasons with at least 1,102 receiving yards and was named an All-Pro in 2023 after recording 135 receptions, 1,749 yards and 12 touchdowns. He has great chemistry with Dak Prescott and should remain Dallas' top receiver for the duration of his four-year, $136 million contract.
2. George Pickens
Pickens should slot right into the No. 2 receiver role with the Cowboys. The 6-3, 200-pound receiver is a great contested catch playmaker who should quickly establish himself as a downfield threat after averaging 16.3 yards per reception in three years with the Steelers. He and Lamb will create a physical receiving tandem that will be difficult for opposing cornerbacks to guard.
GEORGE PICKENS TRADE GRADES: Cowboys land WR upgrade, Steelers create hole
3. Jalen Tolbert
The Cowboys will probably hold an open competition for the No. 3 receiver role, but Tolbert may be the early favorite to get the most snaps. He played 76.17% of Dallas' offensive snaps last season, good for the most among receivers on the team, and set career-best marks in catches (49), receiving yards (610) and touchdowns (7).
4. KaVontae Turpin
Turpin is an explosive playmaker who could also factor into the race for the No. 3 receiver role. He averaged 13.5 yards per reception last season and has the speed and separation skills needed to complement Dallas' bigger-bodied weapons well. That said, Turpin's role as an All-Pro return man along with his 5-9, 153-pound frame may make him a better rotational gadget weapon for the Cowboys.
5. Jonathan Mingo
The Cowboys eased Mingo – a second-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft – into action after acquiring him in a midseason trade with the Carolina Panthers. Could he see a bigger role in 2025? It's possible. That said, the 6-2, 220-pound receiver doesn't complement Lamb and Pickens quite as well as Tolbert and Turpin, so he may find himself as more of a backup for the bigger-bodied weapons.
Best of the rest
While there appears to be a clear line of demarcation for Dallas' top five receivers, the back end of the depth chart features wide-open competition for spots on the 53-man roster and practice squad. Below is a look at the remainder of the players competing for jobs with the Cowboys:
- Jalen Brooks
- Parris Campbell
- Ryan Flournoy
- Kelvin Harmon
- Traeshon Holden
- Josh Kelly
- Jalen Moreno-Cropper
- Seth Williams
Among the group, Brooks and Flournoy both played the most for the Cowboys last season, with Brooks playing 31.68% of the offensive snaps and Flournoy seeing 13.32%. That could give them the edge in the battle for the final depth chart spots.
Among the rest, Campbell is the most interesting player to watch. The six-year veteran had just six catches for 30 yards and a touchdown in five games with the Philadelphia Eagles last season but recorded 63 catches for 623 yards and three touchdowns with the Indianapolis Colts in 2022. He's a versatile weapon who could challenge for the backup job in the slot.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Cowboys WR depth chart: How George Pickens fits with new team
Continue reading...
