Pickens and Lamb: The Cowboys’ New Dynamic Duo Taking Shape

AP Photo/Jessica Tobias

The Dallas Cowboys are quietly building one of the NFL’s most exciting wide receiver tandems with the addition of George Pickens alongside established star CeeDee Lamb. Since being traded from the Pittsburgh Steelers, Pickens has already begun developing chemistry with quarterback Dak Prescott and syncing with Lamb during offseason team activities (OTAs). The early signs are promising, suggesting that Pickens’ arrival could give the Cowboys the offensive spark they’ve been missing. In one notable moment from a recent OTA, Prescott initially passed to another receiver before circling back to target Pickens on a similar play. The 6-foot-3 receiver adjusted his route and made an effortless catch. After the play, Prescott and Pickens briefly conferred, demonstrating a growing quarterback-receiver rapport. “Looking at the guy’s tape, you see what he does, the kind of receiver he is. He’s going to win on one-on-ones,” said Prescott. “When you can add him alongside a CeeDee and the rest of the weapons we have, I’m super excited”. Lamb, coming off a record-breaking season in which he led the league in receptions (135) and set Cowboys records in both catches and receiving yards (1,749), sees Pickens as a natural fit. “Man, we complement each other very well,” Lamb said. “His ability to go up and get the ball at the highest point is amazing” (qtd. in Archer). Pickens, for his part, respects Lamb’s precision and quickness, noting that he’s studying Lamb’s footwork and route timing to improve his own intermediate game.

Their preexisting relationship has helped smooth the transition. Both players have trained together before and were recently seen bonding at quarterback Kyler Murray’s charity softball game. During OTAs, they’ve often been seen working side-by-side, whether on the Jugs machine or during breaks between plays. Off the field, Pickens’ maturity has come under scrutiny due to past issues in Pittsburgh, including tardiness and emotional outbursts. However, Dallas coaches report seeing a different player. Offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer praised Pickens for his attention in meetings and eagerness to learn: “He knows he’s a little bit behind… but his intentionality in the meeting room has been really cool for me to see”. With Lamb taking on a mentorship role—similar to the guidance he received from Amari Cooper—Pickens has a strong foundation to thrive. As Prescott pointed out, defensive coordinators will have to make tough choices about who to double-team, which may open up the offense in ways not seen since Dallas had multiple 1,000-yard receivers in 2019.

In short, while the partnership is still in its early stages, the Pickens-Lamb duo could emerge as one of the league’s premier combinations. If their chemistry continues to grow through training camp and into the regular season, Dallas may finally have the firepower to make a deep playoff run.