The Cowboys are officially playing with fire by slapping the franchise tag on George Pickens after a 1,429-yard, nine-touchdown masterclass where he established himself as a certified alpha and a top-tier fantasy centerpiece. Pickens was an absolute efficiency engine in 2025, posting a 29.6% Dominator Rating and a massive 2.34 Yards Per Route Run.
Jerry and Stephen Jones are taking an adversarial approach with a player who boasted a 114.9 QB Rating per Target, effectively inviting a scorched-earth training camp hold-in from a 25-year-old mega-producer entering his peak production window.
Dallas Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones said ...
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said on Tuesday that the ...
Dallas Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer said he's ...
George Pickens just smashed the league with a 1,400-yard masterpiece, and now he’s rightfully holding Jerry Jones’ feet to the fire, because elite alphas don’t show up for one-year rentals. Schottenheimer is playing it cool, but Ian Rapoport made it crystal clear back in February: No long-term bag, no Pickens at mini camp.
The Cowboys are notoriously allergic to urgency, so prepare for a summer-long game of chicken that will leave Pickens’ status hanging in the balance until he inevitably signs an extension or the franchise tender. Pickens’ Top-10 WR best ball ADP is in no danger of collapsing, and he remains a strong buy in all formats as a key component in one of the league’s signature high octane offenses.
George Pickens has been more than the Cowboys could have dreamed he would be after acquiring him from the Pittsburgh Steelers for a 2026 3rd-round and 2027 5th-round draft picks. Pickens recorded 93 receptions, 1429 yards and nine touchdowns this season and has emerged as a premier wide receiver in the league. His reward from Dallas will be a franchise tag.
The Pro Bowler has expressed his desire to stay in Dallas even with his opportunity to test free agency. The franchise tag placement seems less a matter of Jerry Jones’s reluctance to open his chequebook and more a strategic leg up in negotiating a lucrative deal with Pickens. With a healthy trio of Lamb, Pickens and Prescott, the Cowboys could make some noise in the NFC East. Franchise tag or long-term deal, George Pickens will continue to gain value and climb ADP boards this offseason.
Author: Dane Madoche (@FF_DaMaddog)
Dak Prescott is entering the 2025 season healthy and poised for a strong fantasy campaign after fully recovering from last year’s midseason hamstring injury. The Cowboys signal-caller is ready to prove he can continue his success he had before the injury ended his 2024 season.
Prescott finished as the QB3 in 2023 season. Now, he is fully recovered and still surrounded by elite weapons, including CeeDee Lamb and Jake Ferguson, but this offseason they added George Pickens. With not an elite running back, we can expect a high-volume passing offense.
Prescott is a strong value in the Round 7–9 range in redraft leagues and a solid target for managers who wait on quarterback. His combination of experience, weapons, and offensive scheme make him a high-floor, high-ceiling option in 2025, and will finish as a QB1.
Author: Jake Lewis (@Lewylewis5)
One of the most intriguing stories of the offseason was the Pittsburgh Steelers trade of wide receiver George Pickens to the Dallas Cowboys. Gaining a reputation as a diva, the Steelers felt it was time to cut ties. Normally when Mike Tomlin has had enough it signals a time for change.
Prior to his trade, George Pickens was set to hold a youth football camp in Pittsburgh on Saturday, June 28th. Pickens had informed the organization running the camp TruEdge Sports that he would still attend despite his trade. Pickens recently backed out just last week.
With plenty of children and their families excited for the event, this has come to a huge disappointment for many. Fortunately, Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth has agreed to take up for Pickens’ slack and will help run the event. It looks like the only camp George Pickens will be attending this year is Cowboys training camp with Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb.
Author: Jeremiah Retzlaff (@coachretzlaff1)
Dak Prescott has a new weapon at his disposal in wide receiver George Pickens. Pickens will make a formidable duo with star receiver CeeDee Lamb.
A benefactor of this move is Dak Prescott. Dak has risen 11.9 spots in ADP on Underdog from the beginning of round 12 to the early part of round 11. Prescott’s season was interrupted by injury in 2024 allowing him to only play in 8 games. Prescott is 1 season removed from throwing for 4,516 passing yards and posting 20.7 fantasy points per game which ranked No.4 for quarterbacks.
While Dak’s ADP has risen a full round, it is wise to continue selecting him as he presents tremendous value due to recency bias due to missed playing time. Heading into his aged 32 season, Dak is expected to make a big bounce back in 2025 making him a terrific selection in all formats.
Author: Jeremiah Retzlaff (@coachretzlaff1)
