Jerry Jones may have stumbled onto a useful depth piece while waiting on George Pickens

Dallas Cowboys’ Organized Team Activities (OTAs) began on June 1, 2026, but wide receiver George Pickens chose to skip the voluntary spring sessions. This storyline has become a predictable annual pattern in Dallas, adding to a continuous cycle of offseason contract sagas.

This odd trend dates back to August 2024, when CeeDee Lamb staged a prolonged contract holdout deep into training camp. It continued through 2025 when star pass-rusher Micah Parsons sat out the entire offseason program before ultimately being traded to the Green Bay Packers.

Pickens, however, stopped immediate holdout threats by signing his $27.3 million franchise tag in late April. Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones stated that the team will not negotiate a multi-year extension with him now, despite a solid campaign last year. 

Pickens must play the year on a short-term contract, leaving his future with the team unresolved. Because of this contract uncertainty, Jerry Jones kept looking for receiver help from the market and it seems like he got a very good assist. 

With Pickens absent, Jones' franchise signed veteran Marquez Valdes-Scantling to a low-risk, one-year deal worth $1.487 million with $187,500 guaranteed. The 31-year-old journeyman is already producing in practice. 

According to Cowboys insider Nick Harris of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Valdes-Scantling earned first-team reps during spring practices. He became a frequent target for Dak Prescott. 

Harris added, “He was targeted by Dak Prescott a handful of times, and even bailed out his new quarterback on a throw that went behind him that he had to swat down to prevent P.J. Locke from intercepting it.”

The fit makes sense for a specific reason. In 2020 with the Packers, Valdes-Scantling led the NFL by averaging 20.9 yards per reception, with 33 catches for 690 yards and six touchdowns. He remains a deep threat who can stretch defenses. This skill keeps safeties back, opening underneath lanes for CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens.

Valdes-Scantling counts $1.26 million against the 2026 salary cap. Dallas can cut him with no major dead money penalty, making him a low-risk addition. He joins a depth chart that includes Ryan Flournoy, KaVontae Turpin, Jonathan Mingo, and rookie Anthony Smith.

Offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer expects Pickens at the mandatory minicamp on June 16, where unexcused absences trigger automatic fines. When Pickens returns, the depth chart will reset for sure. 

However, Valdes-Scantling's early first-team practice reps show he could earn a role as a deep target or serve as insurance if Pickens' contract dispute worsens with time. 

More NFL news:

• Patrick Mahomes' $500 million deal puts the ball in Dak Prescott's court to help Cowboys
• Harold Fannin Jr. will need to prove his worth in Todd Monken’s Browns offense
• Bengals fans should worry about second-year linebackers in 2026
• Seahawks’ Nick Emmanwori can be an All-Pro if he plays better in pass coverage
• Bears need Luther Burden III and Colston Loveland to step up with DJ Moore traded