Brian Schottenheimer campaigns for Cowboys to make big George Pickens decision

Dallas Cowboys wide receivers CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens were on the sidelines for the club's first offensive series versus the Las Vegas Raiders this past Monday night after they "missed" some things leading up to that game. 

Both wideouts then tallied touchdown receptions to help the Cowboys earn an impressive 33-16 victory. 

Unlike Lamb, Pickens is in the final year of his contract. While speaking with reporters on Tuesday, Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer campaigned for the club to keep Pickens and Lamb together beyond the ongoing season. 

Brian Schottenheimer makes long-term hopes for George Pickens clear

"Sign me up," Schottenheimer said about wanting to keep working with Pickens, as Charean Williams shared for Pro Football Talk. "...I’m very in favor of George having a long-term future with us." 

Pickens led the Cowboys with nine receptions for 144 yards and a score on Monday evening. ESPN stats show that he ended Week 11 leading Dallas with 908 receiving yards, 83 targets and seven touchdown catches (tied with tight end Jake Ferguson) for the season. Pickens is second on the team with 58 total receptions. 

Per Tommy Yarrish of the Cowboys' website, team owner and general manager Jerry Jones insisted during a Tuesday appearance on Dallas sports radio station 105.3 The Fan that keeping Pickens for at least 2026 is feasible even though the franchise handed Lamb a four-year, $136M deal in August 2024. A recent report said that "there's a strong likelihood that the Cowboys" will retain Pickens' rights for next season via the franchise tag. 

Why Brian Schottenheimer wants to have George Pickens and CeeDee Lamb together for multiple seasons

"Those two guys [Pickens and Lamb], I just love their relationship, man. I love the firepower that they give us," Schottenheimer added. "That’s one of those games where you never know which one it’s going to be. Some games, it’s both of them. Some games, it’s one of them, and again, like I said, I pinch myself at times. Because when you’re talking about you’re [quarterback Dak Prescott] or the play-caller, like myself, you’re like, 'OK, if we do this, which way do I throw it to? I like that matchup, but wow, that one is pretty good, too.' That’s real."

For now, Pickens and Lamb will have to concentrate on what they can accomplish during Dallas' home game against the rival Philadelphia Eagles (8-2) this coming Sunday. As of Wednesday morning, ESPN BET had the 4-5-1 Cowboys as 3.5-point underdogs for that contest.