ARLINGTON, Texas — On the Cowboys’ preseason television broadcast Friday night, George Pickens said CeeDee Lamb brought more creativity and more freedom out of him. Pickens said the same was true for Lamb.
The Dallas Cowboys lost 27-24 to the New Orleans Saints in the preseason finale at AT&T Stadium.
Dallas placed the non-exclusive franchise tag on Pickens in February. He signed the fully guaranteed $27.3 million tender on April 29. Before the 2026 NFL Draft, the Cowboys announced they would not negotiate a long-term contract with him this offseason, and the July 15 deadline for tagged players to sign multiyear deals passed without an agreement.
Pickens said Lamb was under pressure and under constraints before the 2025 season. He said his own three seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers felt the same.
“I feel like he brought out in me more creativity, more freedom,” Pickens said. “And then I feel like vice versa, honestly. I feel like before he always felt pressure, he always felt like he was under some constraints. Me too (with) the Steelers. Just definitely us having each other’s back.”
What George Pickens And CeeDee Lamb Produced In 2025
Dallas acquired Pickens from Pittsburgh on May 7, 2025. The Cowboys sent a 2026 third-round pick and a 2027 fifth-round pick to Pittsburgh, and received Pickens along with a 2027 sixth-round pick.
Pickens caught 93 passes for 1,429 yards and 9 touchdowns in 17 games last season. He finished third in the NFL in receiving yards. All three totals were career highs, and he was named a second-team All-Pro.
The 2026 Pro Bowl Games were his first. Pickens caught 3 passes for 39 yards and 1 touchdown in the NFC’s 66-52 win over the AFC on Feb. 3 in San Francisco, and he was named the game’s offensive MVP.
Lamb caught 75 passes for 1,077 yards and 3 touchdowns in 14 games. He missed four games with an ankle injury. Last season was his fifth straight with at least 1,000 receiving yards, a run no Cowboys receiver had put together since Michael Irvin.
Between them, the two accounted for 168 receptions, 2,506 receiving yards, and 12 touchdowns. Dallas finished second in the NFL in passing yards. The Cowboys went 7-9-1 and missed the playoffs for the second straight year.
George Pickens Is In A Contract Year, CeeDee Lamb Is Not
Pittsburgh drafted Pickens in the second round, 52nd overall, in 2022. Over three seasons there he caught 174 passes for 2,841 yards and 12 touchdowns. His previous career high in receiving yards was 1,140, set in 2023.
Through 65 career games, Pickens has 267 receptions and 4,270 receiving yards. He turned 25 in March and is scheduled for free agency in 2027.
Lamb signed a four-year, $136 million extension before the 2024 season. Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones said in April that the team had no intention of trading Pickens and would not negotiate with him during the 2026 season.
What Is Next For The Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys return all 11 offensive starters from last season. Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer is in his second year leading the team. Dak Prescott enters his 11th NFL season and his second in Schottenheimer’s offense.
Dallas finished the preseason 2-1. The Cowboys won 17-7 at the Seattle Seahawks on Aug. 15 and 34-13 at the Arizona Cardinals on Aug. 22. The Cowboys must cut to 53 players by 5 p.m. CT on Sunday.
The regular season opens Sept. 13 at the New York Giants. Kickoff is set for 7:20 p.m. CT on NBC.
