CeeDee Lamb has set an extremely high bar for what he believes he and George Pickens can accomplish together in 2026. Asked about the Cowboys’ new wide receiver duo during the preseason broadcast against the Seattle Seahawks, Lamb gave a simple answer. He just said, “The best ever.”
That confidence sparked discussions among ESPN analysts, with former NFL quarterback Dan Orlovsky offering a more measured view of Dallas’ receiving corps, though Dak Prescott calls the offense “GOTI”. Orlovsky believes Lamb and Pickens have the talent to become one of the league’s best combinations, but he identified one major variable that could determine whether Lamb’s bold prediction becomes reality.
Dan Orlovsky’s biggest question is George Pickens‘s version in 2026
Orlovsky initially mentioned Dallas’ defense as another major question for the Cowboys, but when another panelist asked him to clarify, he quickly shifted the focus back to Pickens. “What is?” the panelist asked. “George Pickens,” Orlovsky replied.
Orlovsky then explained why Pickens remains such an important variable for the Cowboys as they enter the 2026 season. “Sure. What version of George do they get? We all know he is unbelievably talented, and last year was remarkable,” Orlovsky said.
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The ESPN analyst acknowledged that Pickens showed enough talent and production to justify the excitement surrounding his arrival in Dallas. At the same time, he pointed to inconsistency as something the Cowboys will need to avoid.
“There was a game or two when he just did not show up,” he added. That is the uncomfortable part of the discussion for Dallas. The Cowboys do not need Pickens to become a completely different player. They need him to consistently reproduce the high-end version of himself that made him such an attractive addition.
The $100 million question hanging over Pickens
Orlovsky also raised another issue surrounding Pickens. And that is motivation. “Is he as motivated this year as he was last year for the cash?” Orlovsky asked.
The question stems from Pickens entering another important stage of his career after failing to receive the massive contract many expected him to land. Mr. Orlovsky wondered whether another strong season could put Pickens in a position to secure the type of payday that eluded him previously.
“Does he truly believe that if he goes out and has the same season this year that he did last year, he will get that $100 million contract?” Orlovsky said. “Because he did not get it this year, and a lot of us thought he would,” he continued.
That creates an interesting dynamic for the Cowboys. Pickens has every reason to produce at a high level, while Dallas has paired him with one of the NFL’s established elite receivers in Lamb.
Orlovsky believes the Cowboys duo can rival Chase and Higgins
Orlovsky was asked whether Lamb and Pickens could eventually match the combination of Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins in Cincinnati. His answer was unequivocal. “Yeah. Could they match the Higgins-Chase combo in Cincinnati? Absolutely,” Orlovsky said.
However, he immediately attached an important condition to that assessment. “If they get the Pickens that we saw for 95% of the games last year,” Orlovsky said.
That distinction is important because Orlovsky was not questioning Pickens’ physical ability. Instead, he was questioning whether Dallas would consistently get the receiver who showed the ability to make a major impact during the 2025 season.
Lamb has already established himself as the centerpiece of Dallas’ passing game, but adding Pickens gives Dak Prescott another receiver capable of changing how defenses approach the Cowboys.
Lamb and Pickens represent one of those critical pieces. Lamb can make the duo dangerous, but Pickens’ consistency could determine whether it becomes merely another strong receiving combination or something genuinely special.
For now, Lamb is comfortable calling it “the best ever.” Orlovsky is asking a more important question: Which version of George Pickens will the Cowboys actually get in 2026?
