While there have been many headlines surrounding the Dallas Cowboys this offseason, the blockbuster trade for George Pickens has been by far the most eye-catching for Dallas to potentially capture their first Super Bowl title since 1995.
Pickens should help Dak Prescott rediscover his 2023 form when he finished second in MVP voting, and take attention away from CeeDee Lamb. With defenses committing major resources to contain Lamb and Pickens, Jalen Tolbert could have a sneaky strong season.
Despite all of that, Nick Eatman of the Cowboys' official website believes tight end Jake Ferguson will be the biggest beneficiary of the Pickens' trade.
"I've said it numerous times already and I firmly believe that Jake Ferguson stands to benefit the most of the George Pickens trade," Eatman writes. "More than CeeDee, more than Dak, more than the starting running back and even more than Pickens."
Ferguson projected to benefit most from Pickens' acquisition
A slew of injuries caused the offense to sputter last season. Ferguson dealt with his own injuries and wasn't all that productive when he was healthy, but Eatman is adamant that the former fourth-round pick will flourish in Dallas' new-look offense.
"But if the Cowboys truly think they've got two No. 1 receivers, then it means they've got two guys you can't guard with one player," Eatman added. "And if somehow a team tries to double-team both guys, then the tight end has to benefit the most. I think that will happen with Ferguson, who is coming off a down year mainly because he had a pair of injuries and couldn't get into the end zone. Other than that, he still caught over 50 balls and nearly had 500 yards."
That is music to Cowboys fans' ears.
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It's well-documented that Prescott likes throwing to his tight ends. He throws the best seam ball of any quarterback in the NFL. The Cowboys desperately need Ferguson to have a bounce-back year, and Pickens' presence only figures to buoy that.
Another reason to be optimistic about TE1? Ferguson is entering a contract year, so he'll have extra motivation to take his game up a notch.
Ferguson doesn't have to be the second coming of Jason Witten to earn a new contract with the franchise. Just rediscovering his 2022 form when he caught 71 passes for 761 yards and five touchdowns would be more than enough with all the weapons Prescott has at his disposal.
Pickens' arrival should open the door for Ferg to have his best year yet.