The Big George Pickens Mystery That’s Finally Getting Answered in Week 1

Download the Kalshi app and use code ATOZ to get $20 when you trade $20. Kalshi. Trade on anything. Sign up today: Sponsor Disclosure: Kalshi: 18+ only. Restrictions and eligibility requirements apply. Event contract trading involves risk and may not be suitable for all investors. Kalshi products are not available in all jurisdictions. Prices, values, and available markets may differ from those mentioned. For more information see kalshi.com/regulatory. HOW TO ENTER: 1. Visit and make sure A to Z Sports is checked 2. 2. Comment GO COWBOYS below! If selected, you must be able to verify that A to Z Sports was selected as a preferred source. ***** A to Z Sports Giveaway Terms & Conditions: ***** George Pickens is about to begin his second season with the Dallas Cowboys, and one of the biggest mysteries surrounding the 2026 offense is how Brian Schottenheimer plans to use him. Earlier this offseason, the Cowboys said they wanted to move Pickens around more. Now, with Dallas' regular-season opener against the New York Giants just days away, Mauricio Rodriguez is taking a closer look at what that actually means. Pickens has spent the majority of his NFL career playing as an outside X receiver. During his time with the Pittsburgh Steelers and throughout most of his 2025 season with Dallas, he rarely lined up in the slot. So will that finally change in 2026? Mauricio isn't convinced that's necessarily the answer. The Cowboys didn't move Pickens around much during training camp, and Pickens did not play during the preseason. That leaves a major question heading into Week 1: when Dallas said it planned to move Pickens around, did the team mean moving him between the two outside receiver spots, or will Schottenheimer actually find ways to get him into the slot? That distinction matters. Moving Pickens to the opposite side of the formation could make it more difficult for defenses to bracket both Pickens and CeeDee Lamb with their safeties. If Pickens and Lamb are aligned on the same side, Dallas could create more opportunities for one of its best receivers to get isolated in coverage. But Mauricio believes the bigger question isn't necessarily where Pickens lines up. It's how the Cowboys get him the football. Dallas learned during the 2025 season that Pickens can be much more than a vertical threat. He's dangerous with the ball in his hands and can create yards after the catch, giving the Cowboys opportunities to manufacture touches rather than simply waiting for him to win deep down the field. Mauricio believes that could be the key to Pickens' second season in Dallas. If Pickens continues receiving targets in important situations — especially on third downs and in the red zone — Mauricio doesn't expect the receiver to be particularly concerned about whether he spends significant time in the slot. That could make Pickens one of the most dangerous pieces of the Cowboys offense. The Cowboys also told NFL insiders they plan to tweak their offensive scheme by roughly 15–25% this season to keep defenses guessing. Moving Pickens around could be part of that evolution. Dallas already used a diverse run game with outside zone, gap concepts and pulling linemen while pairing those looks with play-action and max-protection shots downfield. Now the question is what actually changes in 2026. Mauricio Rodriguez breaks down the Cowboys' plan for George Pickens, what “moving him around” could actually mean and why getting Pickens the football may matter much more than where he lines up. Subscribe to A to Z Sports Dallas for daily Dallas Cowboys news, analysis, game previews and reaction throughout the 2026 NFL season. 0:00 The Cowboys' BIG George Pickens mystery 0:26 Pickens vs. Greg Newsome 0:54 What does "move Pickens around" actually mean? 1:53 Pickens' traditional X receiver role 2:32 Will the Cowboys use him in the slot? 3:16 What Schottenheimer actually said 4:22 Could Pickens move between outside spots? 5:20 The bigger question isn't the slot 5:42 How Dallas can get Pickens the football 6:27 Will Dallas actually change its offense? 6:51 What could change in the Cowboys' scheme? 7:14 Cowboys-Giants Week 1 begins the answer #DallasCowboys #Cowboys #GeorgePickens #CeeDeeLamb #NFL #CowboysNation Play A to Z Sports Daily Games: ***** ✭ For more Cowboys coverage be sure to follow here: Twitter: Instagram: Facebook: TikTok: