Tag: Pickens

Oct 12, 2025; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens (3) celebrates with quarterback Dak Prescott (4) during the first half at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Kinser-Imagn Images

Cowboys ‘lean toward’ tagging WR George Pickens to prioritize defense

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Tagging George Pickens is the most likely solution for the Dallas Cowboys to maintain long-term cap flexibility, keep the wide receiver and save some cash to address improving personnel on defense.

Cowboys vice president Stephen Jones laid out the scenario on Monday as the NFL Scouting Combine becomes the backdrop for league business for the next week.

“We want Pickens here. We think the world of him,” Jones said. “Want him here. Love him, and I think he wants to be here. So all that’s a plus.”

Dallas would be charged a one-year salary of around $28 million to use the franchise tag on Pickens unless the two sides reach a long-term agreement before July 15.

Pickens caught 93 passes for 1,429 yards with nine touchdowns in 2025. He turns 25 on March 4.

Dallas signed running back Javonte Williams to a three-year, $24 million contract to keep one of their difference-makers from hitting the open market.

The Cowboys fired defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus at the end of the 2025 season and hired Christian Parker to repair that side of the ball. Jones said part of that equation involves upgrading the level of talent.

“We want to fix this defense,” Jones said of the budget priorities. “We feel really good about the offensive side of the ball now that we got Javonte done and we know that we’ll have George back. So, we feel really good about that side of the ball. Obviously we spent a lot of time on it already in the offseason, revamping the defensive coaching staff, and now we’ll take the next steps, which are to improve the personnel on that side of the ball.”

The Steelers selected Pickens in the second round of the 2022 draft and he played his first three seasons in Pittsburgh. Pickens has produced 267 receptions, 21 touchdowns and 4,270 receiving yards in 65 games (55 starts).

–Field Level Media

Feb 2, 2026; San Francisco, CA, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) during NFC practice at the NFL Flag Fieldhouse at Moscone Center South Building. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Dak Prescott tosses 4 TDs as NFC wins fourth straight Pro Bowl Games

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Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott threw four touchdown passes to lead the NFC to a come-from-behind 66-52 win over the AFC in the Pro Bowl Games Tuesday in San Francisco.

Prescott completed 11 of 13 passes for 169 yards with a pair of touchdowns in each half, as the NFC secured fourth win in as many years of this updated version of the All-Star event.

This year’s games did away with the skills competitions and was solely the flag-football game to build hype around the sport, which is coming to the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028.

Prescott’s Dallas teammate CeeDee Lamb led the NFC with 80 receiving yards and two touchdowns. Another Cowboys player, tight end Jake Ferguson, also had two touchdown catches and 57 receiving yards, and Lions wideout Amon-Ra St. Brown caught five passes for 68 yards and a score.

Jared Goff (149 yards, two TDs) from Detroit and Philadelphia’s Jalen Hurts (92 yards, three TDs) also saw the field as NFC QBs.

An Ohio-centric quarterback room led the AFC’s offense. Browns rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders, and Bengals QBs Joe Burrow and first-time Pro Bowler Joe Flacco each threw for two touchdowns, but also threw a combined four interceptions.

Texans receiver Nico Collins led the AFC with 93 receiving yards and a score on five catches, and Bengals receiver Ja’Marr Chase caught seven passes for 76 yards with a receiving TD and an interception returned for another score.

After the NFC jumped out to a 14-0 lead, the AFC responded with 32 straight points, featuring a pair of safeties, a 50-yard interception return by Chase and both a touchdown catch and an extra-point grab from Broncos offensive lineman Garrett Bolles.

But the NFC cut the deficit to 44-36 at halftime and scored 24 straight second-half points to take a 60-52 lead with 6:21 left on a 10-yard Cowboys connection from Prescott to George Pickens, who was named the offensive MVP.

Buccaneers safety Antoine Winfield Jr., the game’s defensive MVP, came up with a tip-drill interception on the ensuing AFC possession, and the NFC iced the game with Hurts’ touchdown to Lamb with 24 seconds left.

49ers legend Jerry Rice served as honorary coach for the NFC, with San Francisco quarterback Steve Young in the same role for the AFC.

–Field Level Media

Jerry Jones: Cowboys angling to keep ‘better than anticipated’ WR George Pickens

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones reached the point where he doesn’t want to envision George Pickens putting on another jersey.

The contract-year wide receiver leads the Cowboys with 67 receptions for 1,054 yards and eight touchdowns along with a team-best 15.7 average per reception. He’s taking attention away from CeeDee Lamb, and quarterback Dak Prescott is on pace for 36 touchdown passes and more than 4,500 passing yards.

“We’ve got two No. 1 receivers,” Jones told 105.3 FM The Fan on Tuesday. “And that’s just exceptional right at this time. Guess what? Our quarterback is probably the best that he’s ever been. There’s more there.”

Pickens, 24, was available in a trade from the Steelers in part because he was labeled as immature and abrasive in Pittsburgh. The current season is the final year of his rookie contract.

“He’s an outstanding, let me emphasize this again, outstanding teammate,” Jones said. “He brings energy to the team even when he’s not making some of those great receptions. Bottom line, it’s working, and it’s precious to have it here right at this time with what we’re trying to do with Dak and how we’re trying to maximize having him.”

Dallas signed Lamb to a four-year, $136 million deal just before the 2024 regular season began. Based on the current market and Pickens’ production, he could be in the same neighborhood — or above — as Lamb on a long-term deal.

“There’s nothing that we can do. I know it’s fun, but there’s nothing that we can gain from speculating and conjecture,” Jones said of potentially paying Pickens more than Lamb. “The bottom line is that we’re in good shape. We built the trade so that we could have potentially our options, and of course, frankly, he’s lived and is playing better than we could’ve even anticipated.”

Pickens turns 25 on March 4, which comes after the NFL franchise tag deadline.

Last week he said he wasn’t sure how he would accept the Cowboys opting for the tag if the sides can’t reach a long-term agreement by March. The one-year value of the franchise tag is projected to be around $25.5 million in 2026.

Lamb said he gets the sense the Cowboys are not going to let Pickens out the door. They acquired Pickens after signing running back Javonte Williams in free agency for $3.5 million.

With cap available in the offseason, Dallas is also expected to address newly acquired defensive tackle Quinnen Williams’ contract and look for additional help on defense.

Lamb knows where he would spend the Cowboys’ cash.

“I have the most confidence that we’re going to keep him, and I’m sure that he wants to be here with how much fun he’s having and everything he’s accomplishing on the field,” he said last week. “So for us as his teammates, I feel like it’s pretty clear: We want GP back.”

–Field Level Media

Missed curfew in Vegas led to Cowboys WR discipline

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CeeDee Lamb said the reason he and fellow Dallas Cowboys wide receiver were disciplined Monday night was due to a missed curfew in Las Vegas.

Both starters were held out of the opening series before the Cowboys cruised to a 33-16 victory against the Raiders.

Lamb told reporters Thursday that he and Pickens had dinner and drinks at Red Rock Casino on Sunday night. They were not back at the team hotel in time for the 10 p.m. PT curfew.

Neither player nor head coach Brian Schottenheimer would discuss the specifics of the situation after Monday’s victory, in which Pickens caught nine passes for 144 yards and a touchdown and Lamb added five receptions for 66 yards and a score.

The Cowboys (4-5-1) return to action on Sunday at home against the NFC East-rival Philadelphia Eagles (8-2).

Lamb, 26, missed three games earlier this season with a high ankle sprain and has 40 catches for 557 yards and two touchdowns.

Pickens, 24, has 58 catches for 908 yards and seven touchdowns in 10 games (nine starts) in his first season with the Cowboys.

–Field Level Media

Cowboys contract-year WR George Pickens ‘would love to’ stay in Dallas

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Only one wide receiver has produced more yards this season than Cowboys No. 2 target George Pickens.

Dallas landed the 24-year-old in a deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers to run routes opposite CeeDee Lamb.

Pickens’ contract is expiring at the end of the season, leaving the Cowboys with a massive decision to make.

“I’d love to be back. Especially with (Lamb and Dak Prescott) — all the guys really,” Pickens said Thursday.

He has 58 receptions for 908 yards and seven touchdowns in 10 games after shredding the Raiders for 144 yards. He’s on pace for 99 receptions for 1,544 yards and 12 touchdowns, the kind of statistical line that would also add a lot of digits to a long-term contract offer.

Cowboys owner and chief decision-maker Jerry Jones did not willingly open the coffers to sign Lamb to an extension in training camp 2024. With Lamb holding out and Prescott’s contract to address, Jones eventually budged and made Lamb the highest-paid receiver in the league with a four-year deal worth $136 million.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba of the Seahawks leads the NFL with 1,146 yards in 2025. He has been targeted 97 times compared to Pickens’ 83.

Pickens came with a reputation as a fiery, even abrasive, player in the Pittsburgh locker room. But current teammates haven’t had the same experience.

Even after being punished Monday night for what Lamb said Thursday was a curfew violation — Lamb said he and Pickens were out after curfew Sunday night at Red Rock Casino Resort in Las Vegas — Jones told 105.3 FM The Fan this week that it was feasible to keep Pickens.

The franchise tag is one mechanism available to the Cowboys to retain Pickens without a long-term commitment. But Pickens isn’t so sure he’d welcome an extended stay if it means the franchise tag. The projected one-year tender for wide receivers on the franchise tag next season is $25 million.

“I’d probably have to wait until that comes. I can’t really see into the future,” he said.

Dallas traded a third-round pick in 2026 and a fifth-rounder in 2027 to the Steelers for Pickens. Dallas also received a seventh-round pick in the 2027 draft.

–Field Level Media

Oct 6, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens (14) runs after a catch against the Dallas Cowboys during the fourth quarter at Acrisure Stadium. Dallas won 20-17. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

George Pickens trade has minor impact on Cowboys, Steelers futures

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Dallas Cowboys have landed their No. 2 receiver to pair opposite star CeeDee Lamb, but oddsmakers see it as a very slight move in the right direction — if it impacted them at all.

The acquisition of George Pickens from the Pittsburgh Steelers on Wednesday saw Dallas’ consensus Super Bowl odds shift slightly from +7500 to +7000. However, several sportsbooks didn’t react, with BetRivers telling Field Level Media that the trade “didn’t move the needle” for the Cowboys’ or Steelers’ futures.

The only impact at the book was Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott moving from +2500 to +2000 to lead the NFL in regular-season passing yards in 2025.

BetMGM likewise did not shift the futures for either team, with the Steelers remaining at +4000 and the Cowboys at +6600.

“Very few players outside of quarterbacks impact the lines. Pickens is not one of those players,” a BetMGM PR manager told Field Level Media.

Dallas remains +2500 to win the NFC Championship and +700 to win the NFC East at BetRivers, where the Cowboys are behind the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles (-157) and the Washington Commanders (+220) and ahead of only the New York Giants (+2500).

While Prescott’s odds to win the passing yardage title shortened, he remains tied with the ninth-shortest odds. The current favorite is Cincinnati’s Joe Burrow at +600, followed by Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes (+700) and Buffalo’s Josh Allen (+1000).

A NEW STAR IN DALLAS?
The Cowboys had been rumored to be interested in Pickens, and ultimately gave up a third-round pick for the former second-round selection. The 24-year-old had become disgruntled in Pittsburgh, where DK Metcalf was acquired this offseason to be the team’s No. 1 receiver.

Dallas also has a clear No. 1 in Lamb, but the depth chart had been precariously thin beyond that. Lamb had 66 more targets last season than the next closest member of the team (tight end Jake Ferguson). He led the club in catches (101) and receiving yards (1,194) to go along with six touchdowns.

Jalen Tolbert, explosive return man KaVontae Turpin and 2024 midseason acquisition Jonathan Mingo are among those who are expected to now compete for snaps as the third receiver.

Pickens provides Prescott with a proven downfield playmaker as he comes off a season in which he caught 59 passes for 900 yards with three touchdowns in 14 games. He has one season remaining on his rookie contract and is slated to become a free agent next March.

Pickens recently appeared to be distancing himself from the Steelers, notably unfollowing the team on social media.

Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin told reporters in January of Pickens that “there’s certainly, obviously more room for growth there.”

Pickens has 174 receptions for 2,841 yards with 12 scores in 48 career games since being selected by the Steelers in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft.

–Field Level Media

Dec 15, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) runs with the ball in front of Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt (90) during the third quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

Steelers star LB T.J. Watt (ankle) limited in practice

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Pittsburgh Steelers star linebacker T.J. Watt was a limited practice participant Wednesday, three days after injuring his left ankle during a loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.

Watt’s status for Saturday’s game against the Baltimore Ravens has yet to be determined.

He missed practice on Tuesday and then made progress while taking part in individual drills on Wednesday.

Watt injured the ankle with 4:46 left in Pittsburgh’s 27-13 road loss to the Eagles.

The 30-year-old Watt had two sacks and a forced fumble to go with seven tackles on Sunday. He has 11 1/2 sacks this season to reach double digits for the sixth time in his eight-year career.

Watt, a six-time Pro Bowl selection, has 108 career sacks in 118 games with Pittsburgh. He was the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2021 when he had a career-high 22.5 sacks to match the official league record (since 1982).

Backup quarterback Justin Fields (abdominal), receiver George Pickens (hamstring), cornerback Donte Jackson (back) and safety DeShon Elliott (hamstring) missed Wednesday’s practice for Pittsburgh.

Pickens has missed the past two games. He leads the Steelers with 55 receptions and 850 yards. He has caught three touchdown passes.

–Field Level Media

Jan 8, 2023; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens (18) catches a pass for a two point conversion as Cleveland Browns cornerback Greg Newsome II applies coverage during the fourth quarter at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Philip G. Pavely-Imagn Images

Remember me? Steelers’ George Pickens claims not to know Browns CB

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens and Cleveland Browns cornerback Greg Newsome meet again Sunday when the AFC North rivals square off for the second time in three weeks, a rematch of Cleveland’s 24-19 victory on a snow globe of a Thursday night Nov. 21.

Somehow it still feels like the first time to Pickens.

The mercurial Steelers wideout was physically entangled with Newsome when Russell Wilson’s final pass landed without Pickens noticing. He slammed Newsome into the wall framing the field as the final seconds of the loss ticked off the clock.

“I don’t even know who that is,” Pickens said Friday when asked if he’d talk to Newsome to clear the air from their fracas, which ended with stadium security in Cleveland separating them.

After that game, Newsome said Pickens was a “fake tough guy,” and Pickens said the Browns “are not a good team at all,” crediting their win to snowy, slippery conditions in the second half.

The division rivals meet twice each season and when Cleveland came to Pittsburgh last season, Pickens caught four passes for 127 yards and a 71-yard touchdown. He had four for 48 in the Nov. 21 loss.

Last week, Pickens, 23, was flagged twice for unsportsmanlike conduct, prompting head coach Mike Tomlin to say Pickens must “grow up in a hurry.”

“He’s just got to grow up, man,” Tomlin said last Sunday. “This emotional game, man, these divisional games are big. He got a target on his back because he’s George. He understands that, but he’s got to grow up.”

Newsome was informed after practice Friday that Pickens claimed not to know him and took the high road for now.

“I’m all about the team. Obviously he’s a guy that cares more about himself, and you can see that in the penalties he causes,” Newsome said. “For me, my job is to try and do whatever I can to help the team win. There’s never going to be no one-on-one battle for me. My battle is to try and help my team get the win.

“He does that type of stuff all the time. There will never be a man that could fuel me in any type of way.”

Pickens has a team-high 55 receptions (90 targets) for 850 yards and three touchdowns in 2024.

–Field Level Media

Nov 3, 2024; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love (10) throws a pass during the second quarter against the Detroit Lions at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images

Top 10 Player Props For NFL Week 11

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Week 11 of the NFL season got off to an exciting start with the Commanders vs. Eagles game on “Thursday Night Football.”

Bettors have the rest of Week 11 ahead of them, but they don’t have to settle for the traditional betting line if they don’t want to. No, each game comes with a healthy menu of player props.

Bettors can choose from over a thousand player props for the Sunday games. The following is a list of our top 10 player props for NFL Week 11 (in no particular order).

NFL Week 11: Player Props

Green Bay Packers vs. Chicago Bears

Jordan Love, O/U 32.5 passing attempts at -102/-128 (FanDuel)

Opponents have averaged just over 30 attempts per game against the Bears this season and just over 27 in the last three. Why so few? Because foes don’t need to throw on the Bears.

Once teams get out to a sufficient lead, they lean heavily on the run to run time off the clock. That’s what the Patriots did when they beat the Bears last week, as did the Cardinals the week before.

Love has exceeded 32.5 attempts in four of his seven starts this season, including two of his past three. But don’t count on him to do it again, as the Packers will do like everyone else when they play the Bears and lean on the run game. Take the UNDER.

Cincinnati Bengals vs. Los Angeles Chargers

Joe Burrow, O/U 265.5 passing yards at -115/-115 (DraftKings)

Burrow widely is regarded as one of the better passers in the NFL. Anyone who watched him throw for 428 yards last week vs. the Ravens will probably agree with that sentiment. However, there are a couple of things working against Burrow going OVER this total.

For one, the Chargers have a solid pass defense that is allowing just 191.6 yards per game. While Burrow is averaging 267.2 passing yards per game, take away his two ridiculous outings against the Ravens, and his average is 231.5 yards per game. Take the UNDER.

Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Baltimore Ravens

George Pickens, O/U 68.5 receiving yards at -120/-110

George Pickens, longest reception, O/U 26.5 yards at -135/+100

George Pickens, O/U 4.5 Reception made at -130/+100

George Pickens, 75+ Receiving Yards at +110

*Odds via BetMGM

The Ravens can’t defend against the pass (league-worst 294.9 yards allowed per game). It’s been well-documented and evident whenever they play a competent quarterback. Russell Wilson appears to be one once again, and he has done a great job connecting with George Pickens on deep balls.

In Wilson’s three starts, the veteran quarterback hit Pickens with a long of 44, 43 and 34 yards. No one gives up more 20-plus-yard receptions than the Ravens (47). Wide receivers are averaging nearly 200 yards a game against the Ravens. If Wilson targets Pickens eight times, he will make at least five catches and almost certainly will go OVER 68.5 yards, if not 75+ as well.

Unless the Ravens suddenly figure out how to defend against the pass, Pickens will have a career day. Take the OVER for each prop.

Lamar Jackson, O/U 43.5 rushing yards at -127/-108 (Caesars)

Jackson has gone over this number in seven of 10 games this season but not in his past two. Against the Steelers, he will face one of the best run defenses in the game (No. 4, 87.1 ypg allowed). But they are not just good at stopping running backs. Pittsburgh is quite good at containing running quarterbacks.

The Steelers’ defense is one of the best at keeping quarterbacks from scrambling. Quarterbacks are running on 1.5 percent of dropbacks, the lowest rate in the league.

If Jackson sets his mind to it, he would clear 44 yards against the Steelers D, but they don’t need him to. That’s what they signed Derrick Henry for, so someone other than their quarterback can run for the tough yards. Take the UNDER.

Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Detroit Lions

Amon-Ra St. Brown, O/U 76.5 receiving yards at -105/-115 (DraftKings)

Jared Goff, O/U 228.5 passing yards at -113/-113 (FanDuel)

Jahmyr Gibbs, O/U 15.5 rushing attempts at +100/-130 (BetMGM)

Bonus: Jahmyr Gibbs, O/U 69.5 rushing yards at -113/-113 (FanDuel)

St. Brown has gone over this total just twice this season, vs. the Buccaneers in Week 2 and the Vikings in Week 7. The Jaguars do not have a defense that can contain him, but don’t count on him to go OVER 76.5 yards. Why not? The Lions will not need him to.

Detroit is a massive favorite in this game. Once the Lions get a comfortable lead, the offense will focus more on running the ball and eating up the clock. That is also why Goff will probably not go over 228.5 yards passing, a number he has gone over once in his past three games.

Take the UNDER for both.

As for Gibbs and his rushing attempts, he has gone over 15.5 carries just twice this season as he is in a committee with David Montgomery. (They both have 122 carries heading into this game). Thus, Gibbs is getting 13.6 attempts per game, so he would need at least two more to hit the OVER.

Assuming the Lions do lean on the run in the second half once the game is in hand, he would get closer to 20 carries and closer to 90-100 yards than 69.5. Take the OVER on both.

–Field Level Media

Oct 6, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens (14) breaks a tackle by Dallas Cowboys cornerback Jourdan Lewis (2) during the first quarter at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Barry Reeger-Imagn Images

Steelers WR George Pickens claims ignorance of eye-black rule

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Steelers wide receiver George Pickens claimed ignorance of the NFL policy prohibiting display of personal messages without league approval as he awaits a potential fine for the expletive etched in his eye black last Sunday night.

Pickens added Thursday he hasn’t received a message or certified mail — official word from the NFL of an incoming fine — in response to his eye black reading “Open F–ing Always” in the Steelers’ loss to the Cowboys.

“Never seen it before,” Pickens said Thursday. “Have you seen it before?”

The Steelers have seen it before. Defensive end Cam Heyward was fined for writing a tribute to his father, the late Craig “Ironhead” Heyward,” in his eye black in 2015.

Drafted in 2022, Pickens turned 23 in March and was in eighth grade in 2015.

Playing time was a topic Pickens said would need to be discussed with coaches. Specifically, he pointed to first-year offensive coordinator Arthur Smith as the person who could answer questions about using Pickens for a career-low 34 snaps against the Cowboys.

“It’s not on me,” he said. “It’s all up to Art.”

Pickens leads the Steelers with 23 receptions and 36 targets in five games this season. Smith said he understands the topic arose because of a loss, but stressed the strategy of trying to beat the Cowboys — or any other team — is never about one player. He had specific memories of limiting the role of other prominent players in previous coaching stints.

“You’re going into any game plan, certain players and how we package things you’re trying to maximize snaps,” Smith said. “Different lifetime, but certainly done it with other premium players. Done it with Derrick Henry. He wanted to be out there to play, and he wasn’t out there in all the third downs and he got plenty of touches. Did it with A.J. Brown, early, certain things and trying to mix and match and maximize things or set things up. (Pickens) is still, I believe, depending on what metric you’re using, seventh in targets in passing downs or passing opportunities in the league.”

–Field Level Media