Inside George Pickens’ turnaround from Steelers to Cowboys

As Jourdan Lewis walked up the Acrisure Stadium hallway to the Dallas Cowboys’ locker room after a 20-17 win in opposition to the Pittsburgh Steelers final season, the cornerback wasn’t shy about his emotions towards George Pickens.

After the ultimate play of the sport and a few trash-talking backwards and forwards, Pickens yanked Lewis to the bottom by his face masks.

“Pittsburgh want a receiver,” Lewis, now with the Jaguars, stated loudly sufficient for anyone to listen to. “George Pickens is weak.”

It wasn’t solely opponents who had points with Pickens. The Steelers, who made him a second-round choose in 2022, have been rising bored with his obvious immaturity.

“He is a toddler,” one Steelers supply stated bluntly in regards to the crew’s issues with Pickens. “The playmaking is breathtaking. You’ll be able to’t take that away from him. He simply actually struggled with the maturity half [in Pittsburgh]. You did not know what you have been going to get daily.”

Seven months after Pickens’ run-in with Lewis, the Cowboys acquired Pickens and a 2027 sixth-round choose from the Steelers for a 2026 third-round choose and 2027 fifth-round choose.

It couldn’t have labored out higher for Dallas.

Getting into Thursday’s sport on the Detroit Lions (8:15 p.m. ET, Prime Video), Pickens has 73 catches for 1,142 yards (second within the NFL) and eight touchdowns (third) in 12 video games — all profession highs.

How did Pickens’ transfer from Pittsburgh to Dallas assist him shake off his status as an immature and underperforming participant to grow to be one of many prime receivers within the NFL — and what does that imply for the Cowboys’ probabilities of re-signing him as an unrestricted free agent this offseason?

The Cowboys must reply these questions within the coming months as they steadiness his character, immense expertise and ensuing monster payday.

“When he was having day, he is actually enjoyable to be round. Humorous, cracking jokes, big smile,” a Steelers supply stated. “When he wasn’t having day, he did not need to be bothered or coached. I might by no means put my finger on why.

“When the ball was within the air, I by no means fearful whether or not he was going to catch the ball and get his ft in bounds.”

WHEN HE ARRIVED at The Star following the commerce, Pickens went to teach Brian Schottenheimer’s workplace. They shot baskets, talked about life and his experiences in Pittsburgh. Schottenheimer wished to grasp Pickens with out judgment.

Earlier than the commerce was finalized, Schottenheimer spoke with individuals within the Steelers’ group and at Georgia, the place Pickens performed in school and Schottenheimer spent the 2015 season as an assistant.

What was he instructed?

“Various things,” Schottenheimer stated. “How a lot he beloved soccer, that he likes to play the sport. You may need to cope with him being late often and a few issues like that, which typically all of us oversleep. However for probably the most half it was all constructive.

“The minute I sat down with George Pickens in my workplace, and we shot some hoops, it was very clear to me, this man was fired as much as be a Dallas Cowboy and excited to assist us go win video games.”

One Steelers supply who was consulted by the Cowboys instructed them that Pickens could be tremendous in Dallas as a result of he’d have an alpha quarterback in Dak Prescott and an alpha receiver working mate in CeeDee Lamb. The supply added that Pickens was late to conferences lots in Pittsburgh — typically to the purpose “you felt the sport was disrespected” — however teammates “beloved him.”

Schottenheimer has acknowledged that timeliness has been a difficulty for Pickens this season. He didn’t elaborate, and a number of sources stated Pickens has been fined for being late.

“He would possibly miss a crew bus or be late every so often, however [the Cowboys] can dwell with that,” a Cowboys supply stated, noting Dallas hasn’t made a giant deal out of the fines. “He is been a tough employee and has been accountable, and that is been the necessary half.”

Upon making the commerce, Dallas was not fearful about any challenges Pickens’ character would possibly current, believing it had the infrastructure to deal with star gamers with a diva label. One Cowboys supply likened Pickens to Dez Bryant, who offset emotional outbursts and occasional distractions with stellar play, thriving off the secure Dallas surroundings.

The Cowboys additionally guess on the presence of Prescott to maximise Pickens’ huge ability set.

“That is the place quite a lot of the problems from Pittsburgh stem from,” a participant supply stated. “He did not have stability at quarterback.”

“The stuff he could not management, he had a tough time coping with — and a quarterback’s play shouldn’t be in his management,” one other Steelers supply stated. “I feel the quarterback points [in Pittsburgh] performed a component in his frustrations.”

A Cowboys supply cited Prescott’s management as a key for Pickens, who respects Prescott. “[Dak] has a singular approach of understanding when to maintain a man accountable and understanding when to tug off, so when Dak speaks, George will pay attention.”

Prescott, who’s having an MVP-caliber season, stated of Pickens: “He is a one-of-a-kind man. Particular particular person, elite, has an amazing really feel for the sport, loves the sport, performs the sport like a child. Whenever you watch him play, the vitality, the celebrations, like that is contagious.

“However the self-discipline, there is part of that that we have all obtained to tighten up. And GP is aware of that. Clearly, he responded to it, responded to the self-discipline by the way in which that he got here out, and the depth he performed with and the hassle he had. However he is a particular particular person. There is a steadiness to it, although.”

Lamb and Pickens synced up rapidly on the sector and became one of the vital efficient receiver pairings within the NFL.

“I really feel like he is snug right here. He is completely satisfied right here. He has a house right here, and he appears like he is accepted,” Lamb stated. “I really feel like we did an amazing job welcoming him with open arms. And every part he did in Pittsburgh? Carry that right here. We will determine every part else and the way we now have to develop as males and a soccer participant off the sector, however apart from that, come be you.

“I really feel prefer it was very straightforward for him. He understood that we weren’t making an attempt to alter him. We wished him to come back over and try this, and that he is doing. He is truly exceeded that. Shoutout to GP, man.”

When Pickens missed the crew bus for the Week 11 sport in opposition to the Las Vegas Raiders, Schottenheimer defined Pickens would sit out the primary collection, govt vp Stephen Jones stated on 105.3 The Fan. So would Lamb, who missed curfew.

If there have been any residual results from the benching, they haven’t appeared.

“His vitality is so vibrant, it sort of gravitates to me and bro, CeeDee,” Pickens stated of Schottenheimer the week after his benching.

what a transfer, george 😮‍💨

📺: #DALvsLV on ESPN
📲: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/RmDxAeDdUk pic.twitter.com/cXCR8broV1

— Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) November 18, 2025

After Lamb scored a landing in opposition to the Raiders, Schottenheimer went over to each receivers and playfully hugged them.

“Within the league? Most likely not,” Pickens stated when requested if he had been embraced like that earlier than. “However undoubtedly again [in] highschool. However within the league? No, Schotty’s most likely the primary.”

Pickens had unsportsmanlike conduct penalties in consecutive video games in opposition to the Cardinals and Raiders. Sitting at a desk for a information convention after the win over the Raiders, Schottenheimer moved his hand on the sting, teetering backwards and forwards.

“You attempt to play on the sting and never go over the sting, and he is sort of proper right here typically,” Schottenheimer stated. “That is why I feel he is such an amazing participant. However I am going to say it once more, I really like him. I actually do. I really like the younger man. I inform him that on a regular basis.”

PICKENS’ TURNAROUND IN Dallas results in the massive offseason query: The place will he play in 2026?

He might be an unrestricted free agent, because the Cowboys didn’t pursue a long-term extension after buying him. They wished to see how he would carry out, produce and slot in with the Cowboys. And Pickens wished to see how he would slot in Dallas as nicely.

So far, there have been no discussions on an extension.

A number of league sources predict Pickens will shoot for a large quantity primarily based on his play — fairly probably within the $30 million-and-up vary that 9 completely different receivers occupy, placing him near and even within the class of Lamb, Justin Jefferson and Ja’Marr Chase, who signed the league’s richest receiver deal (4 years, $161 million) in March.

Some across the league are unsure whether or not Dallas would acquiesce, given the franchise tag of roughly $27 million to $28 million is nicely underneath that complete. That might open up the potential for Pickens skipping the offseason program and coaching camp if he and the membership are unable to achieve a long-term settlement by July 15, 2026.

The early indicators are that Dallas shouldn’t be afraid of the franchise tag quantity. “He ain’t leaving,” a crew supply predicted.

On quite a few events, Cowboys proprietor and normal supervisor Jerry Jones has stated he needs to maintain Pickens.

“I am proud he is having the season he is having,” he stated. “It exceeds something we might have hoped for.”

Prescott and Schottenheimer have stated they need Pickens, too.

“I feel that’d be a precedence within the offseason,” Prescott stated of if he’ll inform that to Jones. “Proper now has it come up? Perhaps joking right here or there, whether or not or not it’s to George or whether or not or not it’s to Jerry. … However I am all-in for [keeping Pickens].”

Mentioned Schottenheimer: “I am very in favor of George having a long-term future with us.”

Wage cap points complicate issues, however a deal shouldn’t be unattainable. Every year, the Cowboys restructure contracts to create wage cap area.

The Cincinnati Bengals have Chase and Tee Higgins underneath offers value $40.25 million and $28.75 million yearly, whereas additionally paying quarterback Joe Burrow $55 million a 12 months. Lamb makes $34 million a 12 months. Prescott makes $60 million a 12 months and could have a cap determine of $74 million in 2026.

The offers signed by tight finish Jake Ferguson, cornerback DaRon Bland and left guard Tyler Smith earlier this 12 months have been designed with the flexibility to create roughly $30 million in room in 2026. Add in contract restructures for Prescott and Lamb, and there may very well be extra money. Dallas might additionally launch cornerback Trevon Diggs, who is ready to depend $18.441 million in opposition to the 2026 cap.

The Cowboys may even carry over a considerable amount of 2025 cap area to 2026. At present, they’ve $23 million in room, however a few of that may very well be chewed up if gamers attain sure incentives.

Jerry Jones had a easy reply when requested just lately on 105.3 The Fan if the Cowboys might pay three defensive tackles — Osa Odighizuwa, Quinnen Williams and Kenny Clark — $20 million apiece and add Pickens on the prime of the market to Lamb’s already big contract.

“Sure,” Jones stated.

As a lot as individuals bemoan the Cowboys’ negotiation techniques of ready to finish a cope with gamers (e.g., Prescott, Lamb, Micah Parsons), there may be little incentive for Pickens to signal an extension proper now, wanting getting a contract on par with Chase.

Pickens has been comparatively quiet in regards to the impending contract discussions.

When requested if he would signal the franchise tag tender, Pickens stated, “I sort of go away that stuff to my agent.”

Pressed once more, he stated, “I would have to attend most likely till that comes. I can not actually see sooner or later. So I would have to attend for it to get right here.”

However he hopes to stay in Dallas.

“I would like to be again with bro [Lamb], particularly him, Dak, all the blokes actually,” Pickens stated.