It’s no secret that Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens just posted one of the great seasons at his position in the history of the franchise. He came down with 93 catches, eighth in the NFL, as well as 1,429 yards–third in the league and fourth all-time on the Cowboys’ single-season list. His average of 15.4 yards per catch was third among players with at least 50 catches.

It’s also no secret that Pickens is a pending free agent, and is due for a very rich contract from Dallas. Spotrac puts his market value at $122 million over four seasons, which would make him one of a handful of receivers with an annual salary over $30 million. That might be underselling him, too. In a free-agent class that lacks big-time stars, another team could push for a Pickens overpay.

Pickens’ teammates have been outspoken in their desire to make sure he comes back. But, it turns out, other players around the NFL have been outspoken to Pickens about their desire to have him as a teammates. At the Pro Bowl this week, CeeDee Lamb was not at all happy about that.

CeeDee Lamb: Micah Parsons Is Recruiting George Pickens

The Cowboys star receiver praised Pickens, but, in an appearance on the “Up and Adams Show” with Kay Adams, Lamb said he has been fending off other star players who have been trying to recruit his free-agent teammate.

Yes, that includes Micah Parsons, who was briefly Pickens’ teammate this summer before he was traded to Green Bay. Parsons wants Pickens on the Packers.

Asked who was after Pickens, Lamb said, “Everybody in my base is trying to recruit him while I am standing right next to him. Micah for one. That’s the only team I’d stay with right now, but there’s a couple people I feel like definitely trying to get my man away from me. …

“It was for sure Kiesean (Nixon), too, so Green Bay clearly wants him. Now you got me ratting on people. I’m done ratting on people.”

But Lamb had a warning for those recruiting Pickens: It’s a waste of time.

“They’re not getting him,” he said.

Cowboys’ Contract History Is Worrying

If it was up to Lamb, and Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott, there’s no doubt that Pickens would be staying put in Dallas. But, as Cowboys fans know, this will be owner Jerry Jones’ show, and that’s cause for concern. The Cowboys can slap a franchise tag on Pickens, which is a one-year, $28 million contract, but Pickens could hold out and could still be approached by other teams.

Both Lamb and Prescott know how the Cowboys operate in terms of contracts–they wait, they build drama, they walk the tightrope. Lamb and Prescott both got extensions just before the start of the 2024 season. The Cowboys can’t wait that long on Pickens.

CeeDee Lamb on Keeping George Pickens With Cowboys: ‘We Want to Win’

Lamb was reminded that Prescott, too, has been outspoken about keeping Pickens with the Cowboys. Lamb was as ardent as Prescott about it.

“We want to win,” Lamb said. “He’s a great player, phenomenal player, he is like my brother off the field. He’s like my brother on the field. Those kinds of relationships, they don’t hit off like that a lot of times, especially in the league. A lot of people have families, a lot of people have kids, wives they tend to at home, so they have their own little thing. As for us, we’re obviously two young men in the league wanting to thrive.”

And for those recruiting Pickens via whispers and DMs, Lamb had another warning: He has Pickens’ ear directly.

“I am going right to the source,” Lamb said. “I don’t need no middle man, I don’t need no help. We don’t have to keep it cute. I am gonna tell you what I want. I hope you enjoy it, I hope you like it, I hope you hear what I gotta say, and then we go win.”