The Dallas Cowboys are having their best offseason in years. While not saying much, it is hard not to feel bullish about the Brian Schottenheimer era after the team sent a 2026 third-round pick and 2027 fifth-round pick to the Pittsburgh Steelers for wide receiver George Pickens.
With elite ball-tracking, leaping ability and a propensity to come down with contested catches, Pickens gives Dallas something they have not had at the position since Dez Bryant. Pickens brings all of that to the table, but he is a more capable deep threat than Bryant.
Not only do Pickens and Bryant have similar skill sets, but they're off-field behavior and fiery personalities are eerily analogous. Cowboys fans might remember Bryant being late to team meetings, getting into dust-ups with coaches and causing a raucous on Dallas' sideline.
Schottenheimer has stressed the importance of culture time and time again. Pickens is a questionable fit in that respect, but the first-year head coach has cultivated the perfect environment to harness Pickens' maturity concerns.
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It goes without saying that Dak Prescott is one of the best leaders in football. Well, Nick Harris of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram is hearing that Prescott and Pickens could end up being locker mates. If that comes to fruition, it'd be a stroke of genius from Schottenheimer.
Much of Pickens' frustration in Pittsburgh stemmed from a lack of clarity at quarterback. Prescott is cemented as a top-10 player at the position and there are zero concerns about his future with the franchise after he signed a record-setting extension last offseason.
In addition to Prescott, Schottenheimer made sure to draft players who fit his vision as far as the team's culture. He mentioned how "culture mattered" and that was reflected in each of Dallas' nine draft picks.
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First-round pick Tyler Booker, second-round pick Donovan Ezeiruaku, fifth-rounder Shemar James and seventh-rounder Phil Mafah were all captains at Alabama, Boston College, Florida and Clemson, respectively. Third-round pick Shavon Revel, meanwhile, showcased his loyalty to his East Carolina teammates by turning down major transfer offers to remain with the Pirates.
While all good football players, each will have an influence in the locker room.
Between the rookie class, Prescott, Micah Parsons and CeeDee Lamb embracing becoming leaders as they enter their respective primes, and Tyler Smith flying under the radar as a great leader, the Cowboys have all the pieces in place to keep Pickens in check.
At the end of the day, great football players help you win games. Teams should not foster a leadership culture to keep rambunctious personalities away from the locker room. You cultivate that culture to steer those personalities in the right direction and hopefully get them to buy in.
Thanks to Schottenheimer's vision, the Pickens trade has a great chance of working out for the Cowboys.