Emmitt Smith Believes George Pickens Is Right Where He Belongs - In Dallas
It’s Super Bowl week, but don’t tell that to Cowboys fans - because the spotlight is firmly on George Pickens.
With free agency looming and contract buzz swirling, Pickens has become one of the most talked-about names in football. The Cowboys, already juggling a roster full of stars and salary cap puzzles, now face another big decision: how to secure their Pro Bowl receiver for the long haul.
The front office has a plan in place - tagging Pickens at around $28 million for 2026 - which would buy them time to hammer out a long-term extension. And Jerry Jones has made his intentions pretty clear: he wants Pickens in Dallas for the foreseeable future. That points to a multi-year deal potentially in the works.
But if that doesn’t materialize, the idea of Pickens suiting up somewhere else - maybe even Green Bay, where Micah Parsons has been playfully recruiting him - could become more than just offseason chatter.
Still, if you ask Cowboys legend and Hall of Famer Emmitt Smith, Pickens already has everything he needs to thrive - right where he is.
“George Pickens is at the right place,” Smith said during a recent interview. “He has a place that he can flourish.
He has a place right alongside CeeDee Lamb. Because I think you have to have a Batman and a Robin together.”
And that’s a dynamic Dallas already has in place. Pickens has blossomed under offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer and quarterback Dak Prescott, turning in a career-best season in 2025: 93 catches, 1,429 yards, and 9 touchdowns - all personal highs. His explosive playmaking and physicality on the outside have made him a nightmare for defenses, and there were stretches this season when he looked like the best receiver on the roster.
Yes, that includes CeeDee Lamb.
But Emmitt Smith wasn’t ready to crown Pickens as the Cowboys’ WR1 just yet - and he wasn’t shy about explaining why.
“We don’t know if he’s the number one,” Smith said. “A number one don’t quit, a number one says run the ball when it’s six in the box. Mike [Irvin] was never afraid, and that’s the mentality George has to develop.”
That’s vintage Emmitt - holding players to the standard of greatness he knows firsthand. And he’s not wrong.
As good as Pickens was in 2025, there were moments where his effort and focus were questioned, particularly in games where the offense sputtered and the team needed a spark. Those are the moments where true No. 1 receivers rise above and demand the ball - not just with their words, but with their play.
But the good news for Pickens? He’s in a system built for growth.
He’s got a veteran quarterback in Dak who knows how to read defenses and deliver the ball with precision. He’s got a creative play-caller in Schottenheimer who knows how to scheme him open.
And he’s got another elite receiver in CeeDee Lamb to draw coverage and keep defenses honest.
In other words, the conditions are ideal for Pickens to take that next step - not just as a playmaker, but as a leader.
So while the contract negotiations might dominate headlines in the coming weeks, the bigger story might be what’s already in place. According to Emmitt Smith, Pickens doesn’t need a new team to reach his potential - he just needs to keep building where he’s at.
And if he does, the Cowboys might be staring at one of the league’s most dangerous receiver tandems for years to come.