The Dallas Cowboys made waves this offseason with a bold move that could redefine their offense. By acquiring wide receiver George Pickens from the Pittsburgh Steelers, Dallas has given quarterback Dak Prescott another dynamic weapon alongside All-Pro CeeDee Lamb. The move is already turning heads, especially those of former Cowboys stars.
Tony Romo Sees George Pickens-CeeDee Lamb Pairing as Key to Cowboys Breakthrough
Tony Romo, the Cowboys legend turned lead NFL color analyst for CBS Sports, believes the Pickens trade has the potential to reshape the NFC landscape. Now 45, Romo earned four Pro Bowl selections during his career in Dallas and remains one of the franchise’s most recognizable voices. And when he speaks, Cowboys fans tend to listen.
“That’s a big trade,” Romo said, evaluating the trade’s imapct. “Having [George Pickens] and CeeDee [Lamb] together is a game changer. If you remember when they had Amari [Cooper] and CeeDee Lamb together, it made it very difficult to focus on one player when you have two superstars out there.”
Romo’s analysis draws on recent history. From 2020 to 2021, Cooper and Lamb formed a dangerous pairing before Cooper was traded to the Cleveland Browns. The offense flourished when defenses couldn’t key in on just one wideout. Romo sees a similar potential now — and maybe even more upside with Pickens’ size and physicality in the mix.
Former #Cowboys QB Tony Romo shares his thoughts on the George Pickens trade and gives the team major props for an outstanding offseason. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/nnQTbkuzwe
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Pickens, still just 24 years old, flashed star potential in Pittsburgh despite being paired with a carousel of quarterbacks that included Mitch Trubisky, Kenny Pickett, and Mason Rudolph. While he lined up opposite Pro Bowler Diontae Johnson, the Steelers’ passing attack never fully took off. Now, with a three-time Pro Bowl quarterback in Prescott, Pickens enters an offense with greater stability and firepower.
“When you have two guys like that,” Romo said, “it just opens up the offense quite a bit.”
The Cowboys are coming off a 12-5 campaign that earned them the NFC East crown in 2023 — their second division title in three seasons. But playoff success has remained elusive, with early-round exits in each of the last three years. That’s part of why owner Jerry Jones made sweeping changes this offseason, including hiring new head coach Brian Schottenheimer.
Romo praised the front office for its aggressive approach. “I think that the Cowboys did a great job this offseason,” he said. “Kudos to the Joneses and what they did because they needed to make up ground on the rest of the division, and they did — extensively.”
With Lamb and Pickens leading the way, Dallas boasts one of the NFL’s top receiver tandems heading into 2025. For a team trying to end a nearly 30-year Super Bowl drought, Romo believes this may be the move that finally changes the narrative.