George Pickens isn’t just thriving in Dallas - he’s exploding. And if defenses around the league haven’t caught on yet, they’re about to get a rude awakening.
When the Cowboys sent a third-round pick to Pittsburgh for Pickens back in May, it raised some eyebrows. Sure, the talent was obvious - that was never in question - but few expected him to become this version of himself so quickly: a legitimate WR1 who’s not just producing, but dominating.
Even in a relatively quiet Thanksgiving Day matchup against the Chiefs, Pickens made his presence felt when it mattered most. Late in the second half, with the game still hanging in the balance, he came alive.
Kansas City gave him space on slants - a puzzling decision, considering that’s arguably the most dangerous route in his arsenal - and he punished them for it. That’s been the story of his season: give him an inch, and he’ll take the drive.
Asked about how teams might adjust to take away his go-to routes, Pickens didn’t flinch. In fact, he welcomed the challenge.
“It’s kind of inevitable. It’s gonna happen regardless,” Pickens said.
“Because I can beat it against 2-man, man, 3, 4 - it’s a window thing. … There’s nothing they can do to win.
I got the go-ball, the stop route, slant. And now they’re kinda focusing on the slant and I still got the go-ball.
There’s a lot of stuff.”
That’s not just confidence - that’s a receiver who knows exactly what he brings to the table. And more importantly, he’s backed it up every step of the way.
Pickens’ reputation in Pittsburgh was complicated. Critics questioned his route-running and suggested he had a limited tree.
But in Dallas, he’s flipped that narrative on its head. He’s not trying to be everything - he’s just consistently winning with what he does best.
And when your “best” includes elite production on slants, go balls, and stop routes, that’s more than enough.
Now comes another test: Thursday night against the Detroit Lions. Detroit’s defense plays man coverage at the second-highest rate in the NFL - and that’s music to Pickens’ ears.
No receiver has torched man coverage quite like Pickens this season. According to Pro Football Focus, he ranks third in the league with a 142.4 passer rating when targeted against man.
He’s racked up 438 yards against it - that’s 112 more than the next closest receiver. He leads the NFL with 24 receptions versus man and sits third in yards per route run (3.59).
These aren’t just solid numbers - they’re elite across the board.
CeeDee Lamb, for his part, isn’t far behind. Despite missing three games, Lamb still ranks fifth in both receiving yards and yards per route run against man coverage, and sixth in receptions. That tandem - Pickens and Lamb - gives the Cowboys one of the most dangerous receiving duos in the league, especially against aggressive secondaries.
What’s changed since Pickens arrived in Dallas? Chemistry.
It took a few weeks for him and Dak Prescott to sync up, but once they did, they’ve been nearly unstoppable. Since Week 3, Pickens has gone over 70 receiving yards in every game but one - and even in that game, against the Jets, he still pulled in 57 yards and a touchdown.
Since then, he’s averaging 108.4 yards per game and has six touchdowns to his name.
And he’s not just padding stats against soft defenses. Against two of the league’s most physical secondaries - the Eagles and Chiefs - Pickens combined for 234 receiving yards.
That’s not just production - that’s proof. Proof that he can win against the best.
The Lions will bring a physical brand of football, no question. But their secondary doesn’t quite stack up to the ones Pickens has already shredded. Until someone finds a way to shut him down, there’s no reason to believe it’s coming anytime soon.
Pickens didn’t just find a new home in Dallas - he found a system and a quarterback that let him be the best version of himself. And right now, that version is one of the most dangerous wide receivers in the NFL.