The Dallas Cowboys badly needed some wide receiver help before trading for George Pickens but NFL fans might not be correctly measuring just how impactful the move will likely turn out to be.
Not only is Pickens an upgrade behind WR1 CeeDee Lamb but he plays right into Dak Prescott's strengths. This has been widely discussed since the deal happened but as time goes by, further evidence continues to push the narrative forward.
Consider the stats Fantasy Football specialist Jacob Gibbs' recently brought to the table. Gibbs has done a great job breaking down advanced metrics by passing depth lately and earlier this week, he shared some important numbers surrounding Prescott's deep passing numbers.
Prescott ranked fifth among NFL quarterbacks in catchable ball rate in throws of 20+ air yards while working from a clean pocket. The high mark is consistent with his career, as he's always been known as a good deep passer, whether outside the numbers or up the seams. In the latter, he's widely considered to be the NFL's finest.
Dak Prescott delivered a 68% catchable ball rate on throws of 20+ air yards without pressure in 2024.
— Jacob Gibbs (@jagibbs_23) May 19, 2025
QB5 out of 33 qualifiers
(Source: @FantasyPtsData) https://t.co/1sz43OOeZQ pic.twitter.com/Jv40noRwJI
Even in a year that was considered a "down season" for the Cowboys quarterback, he didn't stop excelling when going deep. In fact, his struggles took place in the intermediate area of the field.
Last season, the lack of a No. 2 was costly when Prescott was going deep. More than once, he delivered catchable bombs that receivers couldn't hold on to, including Brandin Cooks and KaVontae Turpin. Even with Lamb, there were some miscommunication issues early in the season, though No. 88 had some fantastic catches in these scenarios, too.
Pickens is a deep strike specialist thanks to his contested catch ability and underrated ability to generate separation when going vertical. His arrival to the Cowboys is a match made in heaven. Stats like the one listed above is just one way to show it but soon, Prescott and Pickens will be proving it on the field.
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