Micah Parsons isn’t just expecting George Pickens to have a strong year in Dallas. He’s throwing out one of the boldest receiver predictions you’ll hear.
On his podcast, the former Cowboys star said Pickens could chase the NFL’s rare receiver Triple Crown this season.
“Pickens looked like the best receiver in the NFL,” Parsons said. “He said he’s going to show he’s the best receiver in the league. He might triple crown it.”
That’s a huge call, and for good reason. The Triple Crown goes to the player who leads the league in receiving yards, receiving touchdowns and receptions.
Only 13 players in NFL history have ever done it, and the most recent was Cincinnati Bengals wideout Ja’Marr Chase in 2024. Cooper Kupp, Jerry Rice and Steve Smith Sr are among the names on that short list.
No Cowboys receiver has ever pulled it off.
Pickens has already shown he can produce at a high level. Last season, he finished third in the league with 1,429 receiving yards and tied for fourth with nine touchdown catches. He also ranked eighth in receptions with 97.
But that last number is exactly why Parsons’ prediction feels so far out there. Pickens is sharing the spotlight with CeeDee Lamb, and Lamb is likely to command plenty of targets himself, if not more. That makes the receptions race a tough climb for Pickens, even before considering the rest of the league.
None of that is meant to take away from what Pickens brings to Dallas. His ability to win on the outside gave the Cowboys another layer on offense last season, and he’s back in Year 2 with the team trying to prove that production wasn’t a one-year burst. Still, when you line him up against receivers like Puka Nacua, Chase and Jaxon Smith-Njigba, all of whom can soak up a big share of their team’s targets, the Triple Crown remains a long shot for Pickens or any other Cowboys pass catcher.
In Other News...
Cowboys Just Sent A Tough Message To Jaydon Blue And Phil Mafah
The Cowboys backfield picture got a little clearer, and a little more crowded, after roster cutdown day. Dallas waived Jaydon Blue and Joe Milton, with the expectation that Milton could be brought back on the practice squad if he clears the rest of the league, while Blue and Phil Mafah did not end up being retained on the practice squad after going unclaimed on waivers. The move left the team looking to shuffle its depth at running back rather than keep everyone in the building.
Brian Schottenheimer said the decision on Blue was tied more to how other players performed than to any lack of effort from the rookie. Dallas also added Israel Abanikanda to the practice squad, giving the Cowboys another running back option to join four others already there. For Blue and Mafah, it was a tough reminder that even in a crowded camp, a roster spot is only as secure as the last practice and the last evaluation. [Read more 🡒]
Jets Just Saw Another Failed D-Line Bet End Quietly
The Dolphins have picked up defensive tackle Mazi Smith for their practice squad, a quiet landing spot for a player who entered the league with plenty of expectations. Smith, a former first-round pick by the Cowboys, was released by the Jets after a brief stay and now gets another chance to stick with a team that is looking for depth along its defensive line.
For Dallas, it is another reminder of how far the former top pick still has to go after three NFL seasons with limited production. Smiths path has already included a move out of New York and into another roster-building project in Miami, and the next step will be whether he can turn a fresh opportunity into something more lasting. [Read more 🡒]
Cowboys Cutdown Choice Is Raising Questions After One Strong Summer
Cutdown weekend brought the usual churn, but the Cowboys still managed to leave some eyebrows raised with a few of their roster calls. Quarterback Joe Milton was among the most surprising names to go, especially after a preseason that seemed to strengthen his case, while rookie offensive tackle Drew Shelton stuck around as part of the final mix. Safety Julius Wood was also cut in the reshuffle, and Miami wasted little time claiming him off waivers.
For Dallas, the moves fit the broader reality of a roster that had to be trimmed, but they also invite the kind of second-guessing that always follows when a young player turns heads in August and still does not make the team. Miltons release, in particular, stands out because of how much momentum he appeared to build over the summer, and it leaves the Cowboys with another decision that will be debated well beyond cutdown day. [Read more 🡒]