The Cowboys have made a big overhaul to the roster here in Brian Schottenheimer's first season. In total, there are over 30 new players, acquired by either trade, free agency, the draft or undrafted rookies.
As the Cowboys have closed the books on the offseason program and get ready for training camp in late July, let's take a closer look at some of the new players.
Today, we will begin the series, focusing on the new veterans and none other than George Pickens.
As the Cowboys have closed the books on the offseason program and get ready for training camp in late July, let's take a closer look at some of the new players.
Pickens was a composite five-star prospect out of Hoover, Alabama in the 2019 recruiting class. After initially committing to Auburn, he flipped to Georgia on National Signing Day and would go on to play for the Bulldogs in all three seasons of his collegiate career.
Pickens' brother Chris Humes, was a star defensive back at Arkansas State and later spent a training camp and preseason with the Raiders.
Heading into his junior season, Pickens suffered a torn ACL in spring practice, a brutal blow for Georgia's offense and Pickens' NFL outlook. He'd end up returning later on in the season, and stamped himself as a top player in the upcoming draft with a 52-yard diving catch in the 2021 national championship game against Alabama, which Georgia won 33-18.
In his rookie season with the Steelers, Pickens made a one-handed catch against the Browns that had some NFL pundits comparing it to Odell Beckham's catch against the Cowboys in 2014.
In 2023, Pickens led the entire NFL in average per catch at 18.1 yards. One of the games that catapulted him to that lofty average occurred against the Bengals. Pickens not only hauled in an 86-yard touchdown pass – the longest reception from scrimmage by any NFL player that year – but also had a 66-yarder in the same game. Pickens is one of just 13 players in NFL history to record multiple TDs of 65 yards or more in the same game.
After a brief stint with No. 13, Pickens is now settled into the jersey of No. 3 after a switch with defensive end Dante Fowler Jr. Pickens attended nearly every one of the voluntary OTAs and all of the minicamp, alongside CeeDee Lamb. Pickens and Lamb are looking to become just the fourth wide receiver duo in Cowboys history to have 1,000-yard seasons in the same year. Only Amari Cooper/Michael Gallup (2019), Terry Glenn/Terrell Owens (2006) and Tony Hill/Drew Pearsons (1979) have accomplished that feat.
