The Dallas Cowboys got another reason to extend George Pickens from an unlikely source – Mauricio Rodriguez, A to Z Sports
Opposing defenses had a hard time stopping both CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens when they were together in 2025, a dynamic the Cowboys offense would be smart to keep in place long-term.
Cowboys’ DC search
reaffirmed Pickens must stay
According to NFL insider Jori Epstein, multiple candidates for the Cowboys’ defensive coordinator opening—since filled by Christian Parker—directly told the team they were “a pain” to play due to the combination of CeeDee Lamb and Pickens at wide receiver. And speaking to Cowboys co-owner Stephen Jones, she was told the team’s confidence in getting a deal done only raised as a result.
“The Cowboys’ defensive coordinator interviews actually further instilled their confidence in why they should keep George Pickens around,” NFL insider Jori Epstein said on Yahoo! Sports’ Inside Coverage. “Because they’re talking to all these defensive coordinator candidates and they’re like ‘hey, you guys were a pain to go against this year.”
All year long, it was clear having Lamb and Pickens posed a unique challenge for defenses: How do you double either of them without leaving a one-on-one matchup against the other? But to hear it directly from opposing coaches had to be valuable for the Cowboys.
‘February’s not the time’: Pickens, Cowboys contract negotiations news – Reid Hanson, The Cowboys Wire
Will the Dallas Cowboys actually be proactive about a contract extension for George Pickens?
The Cowboys and their free agent to-be are in a tricky situation, so when it was recently reported the two sides have yet to meet, no one should really be surprised. On one hand, Pickens is among the most talented players in the NFL. His speed, jump-ball skills and run after the catch allow him to stretch the field like few can, and his chemistry with Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb make him the perfect weapon in this Brian Schotteheimer offense.
On the other hand, 2025 was a career best outlier and only the second season Pickens logged over 900 yards receiving. Disciplinary issues on and off the field led to his departure from Pittsburgh and that same issue popped up, albeit to a lesser degree, during his one season in Dallas.
If it was just about talent and 2025 production, Pickens would likely demand a Top 3 salary at the position. But the other issues are impossible to ignore and based on the Cowboys previous dealings with complicated players in the past, those issues will likely drive contract specifics.
Would Jerry Jones draft Notre Dame star if available at pick 12? – Shane Taylor, Inside The Star
Running back in the first round would be a mind blowing choice for the Cowboys, but they’ve gone that route for a “win now” move before.
With Javonte Williams set to be a free agent and no real lead running back in the building, if April rolls around with him unsigned, and Jeremiyah Love falls to Dallas at 12, I think there is a chance Jerry Jones pulls the trigger and drafts him.
Every mock draft that I have seen thus far has Love going as early as nine and late as 18 to the Vikings.
CBS has the Cowboys taking him at pick 12, even though this team was the worst team in football on defense, this is such a flash player, they think Jerry would draft him.
You get a rookie running back who finished his 2025 junior season as a 2025 AP First-Team All-American with exceptional numbers, including 1,372 rushing yards (6.9 ypc), 18 rushing touchdowns, and 1,652 all-purpose yards.
He is recognized for his high efficiency, boasting a 93.9 PFF rushing grade.
Adding love to the Dallas offense, of course, would be awesome, but we all understand the issue with this team. It is on the defensive side of the football, I just find it hard to see a world where if the top cornerback or safety is still there, they don’t take him.
The legacy of America’s Team: A definitive history of the Cowboys in the Super Bowl – Dan Rogers, Blogging The Boys
With the Super Bowl just five days away, a trip down memory lane to better times for the Cowboys is in order.
Led by MVP Roger Staubach and the “Doomsday Defense,” the Cowboys dismantled the Miami Dolphins 24-3, setting a record for the fewest points allowed that would stand for nearly half a century (recently tied in Super Bowl LIII when the Patriots held the Rams to three points).
The Rivalry Years: Trials Against the Steelers
The late ‘70s saw Dallas engage in a legendary trilogy against the Pittsburgh Steelers. In Super Bowl X (1976), the Cowboys entered as the first-ever wild-card team to reach the title game. They held a 10-7 lead through three quarters, but a 64-yard touchdown catch by Steelers MVP Lynn Swann shifted the momentum and gave Pittsburgh a 21-17 lead. A late rally fell short when Staubach was picked off in the end zone as time expired.
They climbed back to the mountaintop in Super Bowl XII (1978) with a 27-10 win over the Denver Broncos. The Doomsday Defense unleashed on the Broncos, forcing eight turnovers. Broncos quarterback (and former Cowboys quarterback) Craig Morton only completed eight passes the entire game. Once again, the Cowboys made Super Bowl trivia history by having the first and only co-MVPs with defensive stars Randy White and Harvey Martin taking home the honors. It was also the first Super Bowl played in a domed stadium (the Louisiana Superdome).
Sadly, the decade ended in disappointment when the Cowboys again faced the Steelers in Super Bowl XIII (1979), and again lost, this time in a 35-31 high-scoring affair. This game featured 17 future Hall of Famers on the field. Dallas trailed for most of the second half, and the game was riddled with several “what if” moments, most memorable being the costly dropped touchdown in the end zone by tight end Jackie Smith. Despite scoring two late touchdowns, the Cowboys came up short and became the first defending champion to lose the Super Bowl after scoring 30 or more points.
The ‘90s Dynasty: Triplets and Triumphs
After a championship drought, the ‘90s heralded a new era of dominance, marking the return of America’s Team. The Cowboys forced a Super Bowl record nine turnovers to dismantle the Bills.
NFL announces multiyear return to Mexico City for regular season games starting in 2026 – Staff, NFL.com
The Cowboys are one of ten teams that hold marketing rights in Mexico, where the NFL will return in 2026 for the first time since 2022.
The return of regular season NFL games in Mexico builds on the league’s history of playing five previous games at Estadio Banorte in 2005, 2016, 2017, 2019 and 2022. With 40 million fans of the NFL — the largest fanbase outside of the U.S. — and with an office in Mexico City since 1998, the league is focused on increasing year-round presence through fan initiatives, NFL Flag development, community impact initiatives and growing the game at every level.
Flag football, the non-contact format of the game, will make its debut as an Olympic sport in Los Angeles 2028 (LA28). NFL Flag, the league’s official youth flag football program, launched in Mexico in 2000 and this year is projected to reach 3.3 million girls and boys nationwide.
There are 10 teams that hold marketing rights in Mexico as part of the league’s Global Markets Program, an initiative that awards NFL clubs international marketing rights to build brand awareness and fandom beyond the U.S., through fan engagement, events and commercial opportunities.
