George Pickens didn’t hide how he feels about life in Dallas.
Now entering his second season with the Cowboys after three years in Pittsburgh, the 2025 Pro Bowler said the environment around the team has helped bring out a different version of him. Speaking after practice Saturday in Oxnard, Pickens pointed to the people around him and the tone inside the building as key reasons for the shift.
“I’d probably just say the type of coaches and the people around," Pickens said. "When it’s a different vibe and environment then that’s mostly what you’re seeing out of me now. Definitely more light-hearted people.”
He also took a swipe at how questions are handled by the local media and coaching staff.
“They kind of just ask questions first, see your answer, instead of just going with their own narrative. Definitely being around the guys, too.
That’s definitely my No. 1 thing always just because when you can wake up in the morning and see them and we’re going through the same thing. Just being around the whole facility."
Pickens said he has grown personally and off the field, and he tied that growth to getting older and maturing. Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer has also been impressed, praising the receiver’s focus and professionalism in team meetings during offseason workouts and training camp.
On the field, Pickens is coming off the best season of his career, finishing 2025 with 1,429 receiving yards. The 2022 second-round pick is now playing the 2026 season on a fully guaranteed $27.3 million franchise tag after Dallas and Pickens failed to agree to a long-term extension before the July deadline.
That contract situation remains unresolved, but Pickens made it clear what he expects next.
“Definitely something that the other guys are getting cause that’s all I can really look forward to," Pickens said. "I can’t really ask for nothing too crazy, but just what I see. So definitely somewhere where the other guys are getting.”
That doesn’t sound like a player pushing to reset the market. It sounds more like Pickens wants to land in line with the going rate for top receivers - and keep himself among that group.
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