The George Pickens trade almost never happened because the Dallas Cowboys were in talks with the Baltimore Ravens to land wide receiver Rashod Bateman.

With Pickens now in Dallas, there is a palpable sense of excitement for the Cowboys, whose wide receiver room also features CeeDee Lamb. Pickens is expected to form a dangerous 1-2 punch downfield for the Cowboys' attack that finished the 2024 NFL season with an average of 227.2 passing yards per game.

Lamb will still face pressure on game days, but with Pickens on board, and if the Cowboys use KaVontae Turpin more on offense, things should get a little easier. Rookie head coach Brian Schottenheimer, who will call the offensive plays, can use all the weapons necessary in Year 1.