The NFL is truly an arms race, and the only thing more important than having an elite quarterback is top-tier wide receivers to catch his passes. In a move that’ll certainly impact the NFC East and the entire league, the Dallas Cowboys are working to finalize a trade that would send Steelers wide receiver George Pickens to Dallas for draft picks.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the trade between Pittsburgh and Dallas is expected to include a third-round pick and other pick swaps.
Pickens’ potential was a big reason he was a second-round pick back in 2022, and the move would give Dallas a bona fide No. 2 wide receiver to pair with All-Pro Ceedee Lamb.
With the move set to be completed, we’re ranking the wide receiver duos in the super-competitive NFC East.
4. Giants
Malik Nabers was a star in his rookie season, logging 109 passes for 1,204 yards and seven touchdowns. The 109 receptions are both a Giants single-season franchise record and the most by an NFL rookie wide receiver. His 170 pass targets were second only to Cincinnati Bengals All-Pro wideout Ja’Marr Chase. The 2024 No. 6 overall pick has the most games with five or more receptions by a rookie in NFL history, with 14.
After signing a three-year, $36 million contract in free agency, Slayton will remain with the only organization he’s known since being selected in the fifth round of the 2019 Draft. Through six seasons, he’s surpassed 700 receiving yards four times and 40 catches on four occasions while scoring 21 touchdowns in 92 regular-season games. =
3. Commanders
The Washington Commanders acquired Deebo Samuel from the 49ers for draft picks two weeks before the new league year and NFL free agency. Samuel has 4,792 receiving yards in his first six years and 1,143 rushing yards. In the past four years, he has rushed for 958 yards and 17 touchdowns while catching 244 passes for 3,599 yards and 18 touchdowns. With Jayden Daniels in the fold, McLaurin had a superb 2024 season, registering 1096 yards and a career-high 13 touchdowns, and that was in his first season with Daniels. Overall, McLaurin has only had one year in which he didn’t log 1,000 yards, which was his rookie season (919 yards).
2. Cowboys
Ceedee Lamb was an All-Pro in 2023, and finished an injury plagued 2024 season with 101 catches (tied for the second-most in the NFL entering Week 17) for 1,194 receiving yards (third in the NFL entering Week 17) and six receiving touchdowns despite quarterback Dak Prescott being out for the season with a torn hamstring since Week 9.
The move to land Pickens gives Ceedee Lamb a versatile and bona fide running mate. The former Georgia wide receiver has eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark once during his first three seasons. He’s caught just 12 touchdowns, including a career-low three in 2024.
That star potential was evident late in the 2023 season, when he caught 11 of 13 targets for 326 yards and two touchdowns in wins over the Bengals and Seahawks, keeping Pittsburgh’s playoff hopes alive. Pickens will now head to Dallas, where the attention, resources, and expectations will be through the roof.
1. Eagles
Despite missing three games due to injury, A.J. Brown led the team with 1,079 receiving yards and earned All-Pro honors. He also ranked 1st in receiving average (16.1) (min. 60 catches) and 3rd in receiving yards per game (83.0) (min. 13 games), behind Ja’Marr Chase (100.5) and Justin Jefferson (90.2). Brown was virtually unguardable in single coverage last season, earning the NFL’s highest receiving grade (96.3) when matched against a lone defensive back.
DeVonta Smith posted a career-high 8 TDs in the regular season and hauled in a 46-yard TD in Super Bowl LIX. During the run to the Super Bowl, he became the franchise’s all-time leader in postseason receiving yards (595). Smith has two 1,000-yard seasons during his five-year career, and he’s clearly a much better and more efficient performer than George Pickens, giving the Eagles the top spot.
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Ranking WR duos in the NFC East after Cowboys trade for George Pickens