The Cowboys may be changing around CeeDee Lamb, but the passing game still runs through him. Add George Pickens to the mix, and Dallas has a receiver pairing that can tilt games by itself. That’s a big reason the Cowboys’ hopes in a still-solid NFC East haven’t gone anywhere, even with the defense being rebuilt.
The real question is whether Lamb is still the best wideout in the division. By this ranking, he is.
At No. 5 is Malik Nabers of the Giants, whose case starts with what he did as a rookie and ends with what he could become if the knee cooperates. Nabers missed almost all of last season with a torn ACL and meniscus, but he looks more and more likely to be ready for Week 1.
With Jaxson Dart entering his first full season as New York’s starting quarterback, Nabers will get a chance to remind everyone just how explosive he was when he caught 109 passes for 1,204 yards and seven touchdowns. His All-Pro ceiling is obvious, and this season could be the one where he starts reaching for it.
Devonta Smith comes in at No. 4, and his spot says as much about steadiness as anything else. With AJ Brown now in New England, Smith is set to carry a different kind of load in Philadelphia.
The question is whether he’s a true No. 1 who was simply sharing the stage, or a receiver better suited to operating as a second option. Either way, the production has been there.
Smith has averaged 82 catches, 1,067 yards, and seven touchdowns per season, and that kind of consistency gives him a strong case even if his upside isn’t quite as loud as Nabers’.
No. 3 is Terry McLaurin, who has already shown what he can do when the quarterback situation cooperates. His Obession-esque wish for a quality quarterback in 2024 came back around in 2025, when injuries to both McLaurin and Jayden Daniels slowed his numbers.
Still, the Commanders receiver was electric in Daniels’ rookie season, piling up nearly 1,100 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns, second-most among receivers. He’s also described here as arguably the best ball tracker in the NFL, and with Stefon Diggs now in the picture, McLaurin could still be headed for a huge target share.
Pickens lands at No. 2, and his rise is one of the biggest shifts in this division. He flashed plenty in Pittsburgh, but volume and quarterback play never let him fully break through.
His reputation around the league also took a hit because of his temperament with the Steelers. Then he got one season with Dak Prescott, and that was enough to show he can be a legitimate No. 1 receiver when the situation fits.
If he puts together another big year alongside Lamb, he could be staring at close to $40 million per year next offseason.
And then there’s Lamb at No. 1.
Even in what was clearly a down year in 2025, he still cleared 1,000 receiving yards for the fifth straight season. The injuries explain a lot: a high-ankle sprain cost him three weeks, and a concussion ended a game against the Lions that was on track to be special.
In six NFL seasons, Lamb has stacked up three All-Pro selections and five Pro Bowl nods, while averaging 102 catches, 1,327 yards, and seven touchdowns. For now, the NFC East still belongs to him until somebody takes it away.
In Other News...
Cowboys Camp Battle Behind Dak Suddenly Feels More Important
Training camp has given the Cowboys a better look at the backup quarterback picture behind Dak Prescott, and Sam Howell has quickly put himself in the front of that race. The former Commanders passer has brought the kind of mobility and arm talent Dallas wanted to evaluate, while Joe Milton has had stretches of inconsistency as the staff sorts through the options and tries to determine which quarterback best fits the job if called on.
It is still early enough that nothing is locked in, which keeps the competition worth watching as camp moves on. Howells arrival added another layer to a backup battle that already carried some weight, and with the Cowboys wanting steadier play from the No. 2 spot, the next few practices will matter for both quarterbacks as they try to separate themselves. [Read more 🡒]
Stephen Jones Signals Cowboys Move Fans Have Been Waiting For
With training camp underway and the regular season opener against the Giants drawing closer, the Cowboys are still sounding as if their roster work is not done. Stephen Jones said the club remains interested and active in adding players, and the front office continues to look at ways to improve a defense that had too many issues a season ago.
The biggest area to monitor is the pass rush, where edge help has become a clear point of emphasis as the Cowboys try to firm up the unit before the games start counting. The club has explored outside options, including trade possibilities and veteran free agents, which suggests Dallas is keeping its options open as camp unfolds and the depth chart takes shape. [Read more 🡒]
Cowboys Camp Standouts Are Making Final Roster Cuts Tougher
Training camp has a way of sharpening the edges of a roster, and for the Cowboys, a handful of bubble players are making those final decisions tougher than expected. Ameer Speed, Derion Kendrick, Julius Wood, Alijah Clark and Israel Abanikanda have all turned in strong stretches in Oxnard, enough to keep their names in the conversation as the team works toward trimming to the 53-man roster.
Speed has flashed in the secondary, Kendrick has kept himself in the mix, and Wood continues to look like more than a depth option at safety. Clark has stayed around the competition despite a brief scare earlier in the week, while Abanikanda has given the staff another look at a player trying to force his way onto the team. None of that guarantees a spot, but the collective push from this group has made the Cowboys evaluation process a little more interesting in the final days of camp. [Read more 🡒]