CeeDee Lamb Makes His Case to Keep George Pickens Amid Packers’ Recruiting Push
George Pickens is one of the hottest names in the NFL right now - and for good reason. After a breakout season that saw him torch defenses with career highs in receptions (93), receiving yards (1,429), and touchdowns (9), the wide receiver is heading into free agency with serious momentum. And while his future is still up in the air, one thing is crystal clear: CeeDee Lamb wants him to stay put.
The Cowboys wideout isn’t just lobbying behind the scenes - he’s making it known that he’s doing everything he can to keep Pickens in Dallas. But that hasn’t stopped others from trying to lure the star receiver away, even right in front of Lamb’s face during Pro Bowl week in San Francisco.
“Everybody in my face is trying to recruit him while I’m standing right next to him, as if I’m not doing everything [to keep him],” Lamb said during an appearance on Up & Adams on Wednesday. “Micah, for one. Let’s start with Micah.”
That’s Micah Parsons, the Packers’ All-Pro linebacker, who’s apparently leading the Green Bay recruiting pitch. And he’s not alone. Lamb also called out Packers cornerback Keisean Nixon as another player trying to sway Pickens.
“It was for sure Keisean, so Green Bay clearly wants him,” Lamb added with a laugh. “Now you got me ratting on people. … I’m done ratting on people.”
Pickens gave the Packers a firsthand look at what he can do back in Week 4, when he posted eight catches for 134 yards and two touchdowns in a 40-40 shootout. That performance clearly left an impression - and it’s no surprise Green Bay players are trying to bring that kind of production to their side of the ball.
But Lamb isn’t backing down. The Cowboys’ top receiver, who’s logged five straight 1,000-yard seasons himself, sees more than just on-field chemistry with Pickens - he sees a bond that’s rare in today’s league.
“They’re not getting him,” Lamb said emphatically. “I’m going right to the source.
I don’t need no middle man, I don’t need no help and we don’t have to keep it cute. … We wanna win.
He’s a great player. He’s a phenomenal player, great person.
He’s like my brother off the field, he’s like my brother on the field.”
That kind of connection doesn’t come around often, and Lamb knows it. In a league where roster turnover is constant and player movement is the norm, building that type of trust and rhythm - both on and off the field - is invaluable.
The Cowboys acquired Pickens in a midseason deal with the Steelers, sending a third- and fifth-round pick in this year’s draft to Pittsburgh in exchange for the playmaker and a 2027 sixth-rounder. It was a bold move that paid off immediately. Now, with Pickens set to hit unrestricted free agency, the question becomes whether Dallas can lock him in for the long haul.
As of Monday, Pickens hadn’t had any formal conversations with team owner Jerry Jones about a new deal - but you can bet Lamb is doing his part to keep the conversation alive.
The Pro Bowl may be a celebration of the league’s best, but for Pickens, it’s also become a battleground - with teammates-turned-recruiters from other squads circling. If the Cowboys want to keep their rising star, they’ll have to act fast. Because based on what we’re hearing from Lamb, the recruiting war is already well underway.