While the Dallas Cowboys are understandably thrilled about the players they are adding in the NFL draft this week, no doubt the biggest news to hit the team in recent days has nothing to do with the draft–it’s the fact that star wide receiver George Pickens is planning to sign the franchise tag agreement with the team for one year and $27 million, putting an end to a standoff that had the potential to provide yet another unwanted offseason distraction for a team that has gotten all too accustomed to those.
With star kicker Brandon Aubrey also signing a contract, that means the Cowboys–at least at this point–will get into their offseason program with absolutely no concerns about contracts and holdouts. Coach Brian Schottenheimer said before the draft that he expects that Pickens will show up to OTAs and mandatory minicamp as scheduled.
After a season in which Pickens caught 93 passes and was third in the NFL with 1,429 yards, giving up a third-round pick to bring him over from the Steelers certainly seems like a worthy trade. (The Steelers picked quarterback Drew Allar with the Pickens pick, for what it’s worth.)
Brian Schottenheimer Won’t Have George Pickens Issue in Cowboys Camp
Head coach Brian Schottenheimer, for one, is certainly breathing a sigh of relief. Schottenheimer was particularly uncomfortable last summer, his first as a head coach, when the team and star Micah Parsons could not settle their contract differences. Schottenheimer is known as a players’ coach, but he’s also part of management, which put him in a difficult position.
That won’t be the case, at least not for now, with Pickens, who will be a free agent again next offseason, and could potentially be franchise-tagged again by Dallas at that time.
‘We Love George Pickens’
Speaking on NFL Network on Saturday, Schottenheimer addressed the situation with Pickens, and how it could affect the Cowboys now and in the future.
Said Schottenheimer, via Jon Machota of The Athletic: “You guys know how much we love George. We gave (Pittsburgh) a third-round pick last year and what he did on the field was incredible. The relationship (with Pickens and CeeDee Lamb) is awesome. We look forward to George being a huge part of what we’re doing this season and hopefully beyond.”
Cowboys Attention on Defense
The Cowboys, after spending the first two days of the draft attempting to load up on the defensive side of the ball with safety Caleb Downs and pass-rusher Malachi Lawrence going in the first round and linebacker Jaishawn Barham going in the third round, pretty much stuck to that strategy on Day 3.
They did use their first pick of the fourth round on an offensive lineman–tackle Drew Shelton from Penn State–but after that, went right back to the defense. Big cornerback (he’s 6-foot-3) Devin Moore was picked out of Florida, and the Cowboys then added edge rusher LT Overton out of Alabama.
Dallas has the second pick of the seventh round as well.
Cowboys’ Brian Schottenheimer Addresses George Pickens Future