The Dallas Cowboys made a move to help quarterback Dak Prescott and the rest of the offense, trading for a new wide receiver to pair with CeeDee Lamb. They struck a deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers, sending a 2026 third-round pick and a 2027 fifth-rounder in exchange for wide receiver George Pickens and a 2027 sixth-round pick.
Now, the Cowboys look to have a stronger offensive attack as they try to bounce back from a rough 2024 season and get back into the playoff mix. The offense struggled, finishing 23rd in the league with a 68.2 Offensive+ rating. Pickens could provide a boost as a legit WR2 behind Lamb.
Still, not everyone is thrilled about the move. Some say the real issue isn’t at wide receiver — it’s under center.
Is Dak Prescott Giving the Dallas Cowboys a Hard Ceiling?
Former Super Bowl champ James Jones said on FS1’s “The Facility” that he doesn’t believe this trade gets the Cowboys over the hump. He pointed to Prescott as the main reason the team has fallen short.
“The reason you have not gone over the hump is because [Prescott] has not played well in the biggest games, you have not played well in the playoffs,” Jones said. “Even with you having George Pickens, that doesn’t mean that you are going to play well. … I wouldn’t even be saying yes if Justin Jefferson came over there or Ja’Marr Chase came over there, even with CeeDee Lamb.”
Prescott played in only eight games last season, and the team went 3-5 in those starts. He completed 185 of 286 passes (64.7%) for 1,978 yards, 11 touchdowns, and eight interceptions. That came just one year after he finished second in NFL MVP voting, so the criticism is interesting, to say the least.
Dallas is one of those franchises always under the microscope, and every decision gets dissected. This offseason, the team added another quarterback by trading for Joe Milton III from the New England Patriots. Some think that move could be part of a longer-term plan if the Cowboys eventually move on from Prescott.
But that’s not so simple. Prescott is on a four-year, $240 million contract, and cutting ties would carry a massive financial hit. If the Cowboys were to move on from him this season, it would cost more than $180.5 million in dead cap. That number stays in the nine-figure range through the 2027 season.
All eyes will be on how Prescott and the offense look with Pickens in the lineup as the Cowboys try to stay competitive in a stacked NFC East.