Micah Parsons is recruiting George Pickens, and CeeDee Lamb isn’t letting it slide

As usual, the Dallas Cowboys offseason talk is all about contracts, with wide receiver George Pickens at the forefront of the conversation. Recently though, former Cowboys star Micah Parsons added fuel to the discussion by publicly recruiting Pickens to join him in Green Bay. Meanwhile current Dallas franchise cornerstone CeeDee Lamb is making it crystal clear he wants Pickens staying right where he is.

Micah Parsons makes his move

Parsons, who was traded to the Packers before the 2025 season after an ugly split with Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, hasn’t exactly stayed quiet about his former team. And during a recent podcast appearance around Pro Bowl week, Parsons looked directly at Pickens and asked, “You ready to be that green and gold?”

Pickens laughed. The two dapped each other up. It was lighthearted, but slightly concerning. Parsons has already tried to bring former teammates to Green Bay before. Cornerback Trevon Diggs did brielfy join him there. It also can’t be ignored that Parsons and Pickens share the same agent. That, plus Parsons’ history with Dallas’ front office has fans reading between the lines.

Pickens is coming off a career year with 93 receptions, 1,429 yards, 9 touchdowns, a Pro Bowl selection, and second-team All-Pro honors. The Cowboys are expected to respond by placing the franchise tag on him, which would they control his rights while negotiating a long-term extension.

But franchise tags aren’t permanent solutions. They’re leverage tools. That’s why Parsons’ comments can’t be ignored. Green Bay is an obvious theoretical suitor for Pickens. They bring a competitive team, cap flexibility, and a former Cowboys defensive star already in place. The idea of pairing Pickens with an ascending Packers offense is enough to get fans talking. And that’s before factoring in the history between Parsons and Cowboys ownership.

CeeDee Lamb sends strong message

If Parsons represents outside pull, Lamb represents internal push. In a recent interview, Lamb didn’t hold back when discussing Pickens. He praised his teammate’s energy, swagger, and impact, even calling him an “energizer” who changes the entire offense’s tone.

Lamb also emphasized chemistry. He made it clear that Pickens found his footing in Dallas and that the two benefit from defensive attention being split. When both are on the field, opposing coordinators can’t double-team either one without paying for it.

“Even when you’re tired, you have another guy that’s ready to ask a play that’ll give you your energy back,” said Lamb. “I call [Pickens] an energizer. He’s going to bring that swag to the position, that energy, toughness, and everything in between. I feel like he was a bit misconstrued out in Pittsburgh but he got to Dallas and found himself, and I love every bit of it.”

He was even more straightforward before the direct comment, when there were just rumors.

“I don’t feel good. At the end of the day, it is a business, but, GP is now my business," Lamb said. “So I need us to all relax first. Let’s take a chill pill and let Jerry cook...I want to play with him some more. We gotta have many seasons to go.”

“We got one goal in mind, and we ain’t reached that yet, so just wait.”

If Pickens walked away now, it would already hurt Dallas. But if he walked away in the direction of Green Bay, it would just be a direct slap in the face to the fans. For now, Dallas has options. They can lock Pickens into a long-term extension, play out the franchise tag, or explore tag-and-trade scenarios. Green Bay, meanwhile, wouldn’t actually control anything once Dallas put the tag on him. But Parsons’ voice still carries weight, especially among younger players who respect his star power. The official window to apply the tag is February 17 to March 3.

Related stories

NFL

5 Combine prospects Cowboys fans should be watching closely

NFL

Five free agents who could change the 2026 NFL season

Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all.

Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.