Jerry Jones All-In on George Pickens: “A-Triple-Plus Competitor”
George Pickens has heard the whispers. Questions about his effort, consistency, and focus followed him from Pittsburgh to Dallas.
But on Thursday night, under the lights and pressure, the Cowboys receiver delivered the kind of performance that makes you pause and reconsider the narrative. And if there’s any doubt about how his new boss feels, Jerry Jones made it crystal clear: he’s all in on Pickens.
Speaking Tuesday on 105.3 The Fan in Dallas, the Cowboys owner and general manager didn’t just defend Pickens - he practically gave him a standing ovation.
“One of the things that you got to appreciate about George Pickens is his intensity for the competition,” Jones said. “Now, he is a big-time competitor. When it comes to competing and when it comes to loving the game - I emphasize that point right there, loving the game - then I give him A-pluses.”
That’s not just a pat on the back. That’s a full-throated endorsement from the man who signs the checks. And it’s the kind of public praise that tends to come with long-term implications - especially when we’re talking about a young wideout with sky-high potential and a contract situation looming on the horizon.
Jones didn’t stop there. He doubled down on his belief in Pickens, brushing aside any lingering concerns about the wideout’s effort in recent weeks, including in the Cowboys’ matchup against the Lions.
“I like what George Pickens has done all year,” Jones said. “Just so that I’m real clear about it, I don’t have the concern that [others] debate about what George Pickens did or didn’t do in that game. I don’t have that kind of concern about him as far as his competing and helping us win football games on the field, at all.”
That’s a strong statement, especially considering how often effort and attitude have been part of the conversation around Pickens since his days in Pittsburgh. But Jones isn’t entertaining that narrative. In his eyes, Pickens is exactly the kind of player you want in the trenches when the game is on the line.
And then came the money quote - the one that Pickens’s agent, David Mulugheta, might want to keep handy for future negotiations.
“Pickens brings everything to the table,” Jones said. “He brings enough pluses to the table to frankly live with what’s going on, this type of criticism.
The criticism in my mind is, is he a competitor, and when he gets out there, can he come down with the ball? Does he compete when he’s out there?
A-triple-plus.”
That’s not just confidence - that’s commitment. And it’s the kind of commitment that could cost the Cowboys a hefty price down the road. Because when your owner is handing out A-triple-pluses on live radio and dismissing any concerns about a player’s effort, you’re setting the stage for a major payday.
Pickens, for his part, has shown flashes of the dynamic playmaker he was projected to be coming out of college. He’s long, explosive, and has the kind of body control that makes contested catches look routine. When he’s locked in, he’s a matchup nightmare - and Jones clearly sees that ceiling.
The question now isn’t whether the Cowboys believe in Pickens. They do. The question is how much they’re willing to pay to keep him - and whether that belief will hold strong if the rollercoaster continues.
But for now, Jerry Jones has made his stance clear: George Pickens is a competitor, a difference-maker, and a core part of what the Cowboys are building. And based on his comments, he’s willing to bet big on that belief - both on the field and at the negotiating table.