Cowboys George Pickens Puts NFL On Notice Following Spectacular Camp

George Pickens was arguably the best player during Cowboys training camp and he says he's putting the league on notice.

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens catches the ball at training camp at River Ridge Playing Fields. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

When the Dallas Cowboys placed the franchise tag on George Pickens, there were concerns that he could be upset. Pickens, like every other athlete, wanted long-term security, but the Cowboys felt the best path for both sides was the one-year deal.

Pickens ended up not only signing the deal promptly, but he was present for every mandatory portion of minicamp and training camp. He wasn't just in attendance either, as Pickens was locked in and proved to be one of the best players on the field in every single practice.

His performance led to Nick Harris of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram naming him the Most Valuable Player during camp. He also said that Pickens had a message for the entire NFL:

“I’m competing and putting the league on notice,” Pickens said via Harris.

George Pickens ready to build on explosive 2025 campaign

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens celebrates after a play against the Washington Commanders. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

A second-round pick out of Georgia in 2022, Pickens showed plenty of potential during his first three seasons in the NFL with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He also had some character concerns where his maturity was called into question.

Once he arrived in Dallas, those concerns seemed to go away. Pickens was seen as an ideal teammate and the coaching staff genuinely seems to enjoy him. He did have a well-publicized hiccup that left him and fellow wide receiver CeeDee Lamb sidelined before their Monday night game against the Las Vegas Raiders, but it was nothing too concerning.

What was most important, however, was his performance on the field. Pickens had career highs in receptions (93), receiving yardage (1,429) and touchdowns (nine). He finished first on the team in each category and proved to be more than capable of being the WR1 when Lamb missed three games due to a high-ankle sprain.

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens reacts during the game against the Philadelphia Eagles. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

As impressive as those numbers were, Pickens could be even better now that he has a full season under his belt in Brian Schottenheimer's offense. He also has the full trust of Dak Prescott, who showed he had no fear of throwing up 50-50 balls for Pickens, which Pickens has a knack for hauling in.

He's also very well aware of how much money wideouts are earning in recent offseasons. That means he's comfortable, happy, and extremely motivated, which is a good reason for the league to take his warning seriously.

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