Who Should I Start? Amari Cooper or George Pickens

Saturday, May 3, 1:18 PM

Veteran wide receiver Amari Cooper is one of the top free agents still available after the NFL draft last week, and NFL.com's Kevin Patra suggests that reuniting with the Dallas Cowboys could be the best fit for him. The five-time Pro Bowler is coming off the worst year of his career in 2024 with the Cleveland Browns and Buffalo Bills, combining for 44 catches, 547 yards and four touchdowns in 14 total games. He had just 297 yards and two TDs in eight regular-season games with the Bills and averaged just 6.8 yards per catch in three playoff games. The 30-year-old might not be a No. 1 wideout anymore, but he could still have value, and a return to the receiver-needy Cowboys could spark a resurgence. In addition to Dallas, Patra thinks the Arizona Cardinals, New Orleans Saints, Philadelphia Eagles, Las Vegas Raiders, New York Jets and Bills could be potential landing spots for the former first-rounder.

Wednesday, May 7, 1:02 PM

The Dallas Cowboys' plan is for newly acquired wide receiver George Pickens to play out his rookie deal in 2025, a source tells ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. The Cowboys swung a trade for Pickens and a 2026 sixth-round draft pick with the Pittsburgh Steelers on Wednesday in exchange for a 2026 third-rounder and a 2027 fifth-rounder. The 24-year-old Pickens gives Dallas a big upgrade at the No. 2 receiver spot behind All-Pro CeeDee Lamb. Although Pickens is going to have plenty of competition for targets from Lamb -- he would have had that in Pittsburgh as well alongside DK Metcalf -- the move to Dallas should be overwhelmingly positive for his fantasy value in 2025. Pickens will now be working with quarterback Dak Prescott in an offense that could be very pass-heavy when considering their mediocre backfield options. The former second-rounder has 2,841 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns in his three NFL seasons.