Should I Start George Pickens?

Tuesday, June 16, 9:15 AM

Dallas Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer said that wide receiver George Pickens won't do everything during the first day of mandatory minicamp on Tuesday and will not participate in team drills, according to Jon Machota of The Athletic. "Great visits with George. He's fired up to be back," Schottenheimer said on Tuesday. The 25-year-old will play under the one-year, $27.3 million franchise tag in 2026. Pickens was absent from organized team activities this spring as he seeks a long-term contract extension, and he won't do everything this week at minicamp. He should be a full-go for the start of training camp at the end of July, though, as he heads into his second year in Dallas. Pickens led the team with career highs in catches (93), targets (137), receiving yards (1,429), and touchdowns (nine) in 2025 in his first year with the Cowboys in their pass-happy offense. Even though CeeDee Lamb commands a high number of targets, Pickens will have his chances at a repeat in 2026 with Schottenheimer still running the offense. Pickens will be expensive early in fantasy drafts this fall as a legitimate WR1.