FRISCO, Texas — The first person Broderick Jones texted after learning he had been traded to the Dallas Cowboys was George Pickens.
Jones met with reporters at The Star on Monday. He and Pickens spent two seasons together at Georgia and won a national title in 2021, then three more together in Pittsburgh.
“That was actually the first person I text after I got the news,” Jones said. “I’m like, oh, I’m headed to you. You know, he’s like, let’s go.”
“George, he said, let’s get it, man,” Jones continued. “He was ready. He was ready.”
Pickens went to Dallas in May of last year for a 2026 third-round pick and a 2027 fifth, with a 2027 sixth coming back to the Cowboys. He caught 93 passes for 1,429 yards and 9 touchdowns in 17 games in his first season here, made the Pro Bowl, and was a second-team All-Pro. Dallas franchise-tagged him in March at $27.3 million.
Broderick Jones On What George Pickens Found In Dallas
“George is just a freak of nature. I’ll continue to say it. I’ve been saying it since college,” Jones said. “I haven’t seen anybody like George. And he continues to show people each and every year why he is who he is.”
Pickens caught 174 passes for 2,841 yards in three seasons in Pittsburgh, playing with Kenny Pickett, Mitch Trubisky, Russell Wilson, and Justin Fields.
“Not a chance. Not with Dak, not with CeeDee,” Jones said of whether last season surprised him. “So a lot of weapons opened up the field.”
CeeDee Lamb topped 1,000 receiving yards for a fifth straight season in 2025 despite missing three games, and Dak Prescott returned from the torn hamstring that ended his 2024.
Broderick Jones On Following George Pickens Out Of Pittsburgh
Jones is the second Georgia product Dallas has taken out of the Pittsburgh Steelers organization in 16 months. He said watching what Pickens did in his first year here gave him a boost coming to the same building.
“Seeing what George did last year, you know, it just gave me a boost, especially coming to the same team, you know, and being familiar with a lot of the guys,” Jones said. “It’s more than just Georgia in the locker room. So, you know, a couple of Georgia guys and just have, like I said, new scenery and a new pace.”
Jones said the trade caught him off guard and the two days since have been hectic, with a move to make and a new building to learn. He had never been traded before.
“It was a surprise, but I was excited for the change,” Jones explained. “Just going into the year after last year, me getting injured and just trying to get my feet back up under me. So I feel like a new start was needed for me, and I’m just ready to get here and get started.”
Dallas sent 2027 third- and sixth-round picks to Pittsburgh on Saturday for Jones and a 2027 fourth-rounder. The sixth is the pick the Cowboys acquired from the Steelers in the Pickens trade.
Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer has Jones competing at right tackle. Jones said Monday he is at 85% to 90% coming off spinal fusion surgery in March.
Dallas has 13 days until the opener at the New York Giants on Sept. 13. Kickoff at MetLife Stadium is 7:20 p.m. CT on NBC.
