NFL rumors: Cowboys looked into 25-year-old Raven before pursuing George Pickens

George Pickens wasn't the Dallas Cowboys' first choice. Brian Schottenheimer and co reportedly looked into a 25-year-old Baltimore Ravens wide receiver

Updated on: May 10, 2025, 03:23:12 IST

By Yash Nitish Bajaj

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George Pickens wasn't the Dallas Cowboys' first choice. Brian Schottenheimer and co reportedly looked into a 25-year-old Baltimore Ravens wide receiver, but the talks didn't go far. This revelation comes days after the Pittsburgh Steelers traded Pickens for multiple future draft picks.

Dallas Cowboys were interested in a Ravens star before they picked George Pickens (File/AP)

While Pickens is preparing to pair up with CeeDee Lamb in Dallas, Fox Sports reporter Jordan Schultz claimed the Cowboys made a call to the Ravens to inquire about the availability of Rashod Bateman. Those talks "didn't go far," per Schultz.

Dallas ultimately decided to give up a 2026 third-round pick and a 2027 fifth-round pick for Pickens and a 2027 seventh-round pick. The Pittsburgh star comes off a 900-yard season on 59 catches. His 174 catches for 2,841 yards and 12 touchdowns in three seasons are far better than Bateman's stats - 138 receptions for 1,923 yards and 13 touchdowns in four seasons. The Baltimore WR is under contract for two seasons.

George Pickens to the Dallas Cowboys

After his transfer was announced, Pickens said, via the Cowboys' official website, that he has no intentions to play second-fiddle to CeeDee Lamb.

“You guys making a 1A and 1B and all this. Honestly, that’s the first time I’ve heard of any of that stuff. I feel like two receivers are kind of normal. When I used to watch football, there was always a good receiver and then there was another good receiver on the side of him. I just feel like we’re going to work off each other very well," he said.

Lamb, considered one of the most explosive WRs in the NFL currently, finished the 2024 season with 15 games before a shoulder injury ended his season early. He recorded 101 receptions on 152 targets, amassing 1,194 receiving yards with an average of 11.8 yards per catch and scoring six touchdown receptions. Lamb also contributed on the ground, rushing 13 times for 109 yards and one touchdown. His PPR fantasy points totaled 162.4. Pro Football Focus graded him at 77.3 overall (26th among 98 wide receivers), with a 79.9 receiving grade (21st) and a 56.3 rushing grade (8th among 10).

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yash Nitish Bajaj
Yash Bajaj is a Chief Content Producer with a strong foundation in US coverage, digital strategy, and audience-focused storytelling. As part of the US Desk at Hindustan Times, he covers a wide range of topics - from American politics to sports (NFL, NBA, derbies, MLB and more). Before joining Hindustan Times, Yash served as Deputy News Editor at Times Now, where he oversaw international coverage and led a team of six. In this role, he significantly expanded global traffic through strategic planning, SEO-driven content execution, and meticulous trend tracking across platforms. He is experienced in managing high-pressure breaking-news shifts, coordinating live coverage, and building newsroom systems that improve speed, accuracy, and reach. Prior to Times Now, Yash held a position at Opoyi, where he headed the Sports and US news team. He developed broad editorial strategies, guided reporters across multiple beats, and played a key role in recruiting and training new talent. His responsibilities also extended to social media management and experimenting with innovative content formats. A passionate NFL fan, Yash is a die-hard supporter of the Cincinnati Bengals and has followed Joe Burrow closely since his college days at LSU. Whether breaking down top players' latest performance, analyzing team performances, or tracking roster moves, he brings the same dedication and sharp storytelling to his sports coverage as he does to American politics and breaking news. When he’s not writing, Yash can often be found watching games or debating the latest NFL storylines with fellow fans. Yash holds a Bachelor of Mass Media (Journalism) from HR College, Mumbai University. His interests extend well beyond the newsroom: he is an enthusiastic explorer of AI tools, a movie buff with an ever-growing watchlist, and someone who enjoys unraveling conspiracy theories for fun.Read More

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