BREAKING: George Pickens’ deal has drawn notice from opponents, according to Cowboys news

Cowboys are reportedly thought of by NFL teams. Andrew Peters of Bleacher Report says the George Pickens trade could “tilt” the NFC East race.

NFC competitors are on high alert following the George Pickens move.

The Dallas Cowboys are a better club now that George Pickens has joined, and some teams believe the addition will be sufficient to allow the Cowboys to contend for a division title.

On Saturday, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN’s SportsCenter claimed that teams think the Pickens deal might “tilt the field” in this season’s division competition.

The Dallas Cowboys are a better club now that George Pickens has joined, and some teams believe the addition will be sufficient to allow the Cowboys to contend for a division title.

On Saturday, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN’s SportsCenter claimed that teams think the Pickens deal might “tilt the field” in this season’s division competition.

According to Fowler, “Cowboys believe he’ll be very driven and behave himself in a contract year.” Thus, this could be quite beneficial. When Dallas made this move, many paused and acknowledged that it was a factor. It has so struck a chord with the entire league.

In May, the Steelers received draft picks from Dallas in exchange for Pickens. Although Pickens can be a WR1 at his peak, the Cowboys will want him to be a good complement to star CeeDee Lamb as the team looks to make the playoffs.

Going into the 2025 season, who is on the hot seat? Mike Florio, PFT.

On Florio’s list of offseason hot seats, Shotty is ranked number four.

The key to knowing Schottenheimer’s job security is to know whether and to what extent he has guaranteed money beyond 2025.

Usually, head coaches enjoy at least three years of guarantees. But there’s nothing usual about the hiring of Brian Schottenheimer.

He was on exactly zero teams’ short lists during the latest hiring cycle. For the Cowboys, who wanted to have offensive continuity for quarterback Dak Prescott, it was either Schottenheimer or Eagles offensive coordinator (new Saints coach) Kellen Moore. Schottenheimer came cheaper.

How cheap? So cheap that there would be no buyout if he’s fired after one year?

If so, Schottenheimer could need to do enough in 2025 to earn his employment for 2026.

2025 NFL linebacker unit rankings – Dalton Wassermann, PFF

PFF smacks the Cowboys LB room.

27. Dallas Cowboys

While Dallas’ linebacker unit is filled with familiar names, it doesn’t offer a track record of elite production. DeMarvion Overshown is likely to be sidelined for a large portion of the season due to a knee injury. Former first-rounder Kenneth Murray Jr. has posted sub-55.0 PFF overall grades in each of his five NFL seasons. Jack Sanborn projects as a rotational player who is familiar with defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus. Damone Clark and Marist Liufau also project as serviceable depth, albeit with low production ceilings.

2025 NFL Offense Rankings – Staff, Pro Football Network

PFN comes down hard on the Cowboys offense, though they do allow for some upside.

23) Dallas Cowboys

Dak Prescott’s injury last season derailed things, slotting them into a bottom-10 ranking after back-to-back-to-back top-seven grades. The offensive line isn’t the powerhouse it used to be, but the addition of George Pickens gives the Dallas Cowboys the chance to be potent through the air. Meanwhile, a committee backfield should provide them with enough balance to keep defenses honest.

We aren’t ready to call for a full rebound, but ranking in the middle third of the NFL is likely, and a top-10 grade isn’t out of the question.

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Cowboys lineman projected for $76 million deal to run numbers up if they wait too long – K.D. Drummond, Cowboys Wire

Tyler Smith is another guy the team will have to get under contract.

Smith is on his way to a well-deserved new contract. The Cowboys have a fifth-year option invoked that will keep Smith with the team in 2026 for $21.2 million, but he’s eligible for a contract extension now, and the club may want to buck their trend and pay him now instead of drawing things out. Spotrac projects him as being worth a four-year, $76 million extension, or $19.1 per season now, and that price tag will only increase with another Pro Bowl or All-Pro season.

Cowboys QB Dak Prescott believes you have to fully trust yourself after doctors clear you – RJ Ochoa, Blogging the Boys

Dak Prescott speaks candidly about the mental aspect of recovering from injury.

Prescott was recently a guest of Good Good, the popular golf YouTube company, in a round where he teamed up with his teammate Will Grier and brother Tad Prescott. The match is a fun watch (here is how you can access it if you are so inclined) but during it there was obviously conversation about a number of topics.

Early on Prescott was asked if he was excited for the upcoming season and obviously said that he was. Dak was then pressed on what the process is like of trusting himself again after a big-time injury like the one he is coming back from.

“It should happen in the rehab. I usually break mine in the rehab. Honestly it’s not a good thing when you’ve been injured like I have and kind of throughout, career, just different injuries… you really just grow to trust the surgeons.”

”If I had surgery I had it for a reason. And I trust my rehab process. So I don’t really think about it once I’ve rehabbed. Especially if the doc says you’re good to go. Because if I do that I know it’s just slow like… it’s one more thing that I think about and I don’t need to think about it.”