Insider Projects George Pickens Landing with Ravens in 2026

Insider Projects George Pickens Landing with Ravens in 2026
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ESPN NFL insider Jeremy Fowler thinks George Pickens landing with the Baltimore Ravens is a real possibility this offseason. Pickens joining Lamar Jackson in Baltimore and playing the Pittsburgh Steelers twice a year would certainly be interesting.

“The Chiefs and Ravens both need a classic boundary receiver on the outside and could address that with one big move in free agency. George Pickens would be a significant upgrade in Baltimore, and Alec Pierce would satisfy that need in Kansas City, which has been starved for explosive playmaking on the outside since Tyreek Hill was traded after the 2021 season,” Fowler wrote.

“Both would be costly, and Pickens might be franchise-tagged by Dallas. But if available, the Ravens could use some of their $40 million in 2026 cap space on Pickens, knowing John Harbaugh is good at managing big personalities.”

The Ravens are in need of another receiver to pair with Zay Flowers. They have the cap space to pay Pickens, too. Despite Jerry and Stephen Jones both expressing a strong desire to re-sign Pickens, they might financially be unable to pay two top-tier WRs. They’re already paying CeeDee Lamb $34 million per year. The Cowboys are currently projected to be over the 2026 cap.

ESPN NFL insider Jeremy Fowler on a possible Ravens/George Pickens pairing in the offseason

"[He'd] be a significant upgrade in Baltimore…The Ravens could use some of their $40 million in 2026 cap space on Pickens, knowing John Harbaugh is good at managing big personalities" pic.twitter.com/hEW1J904WM

— Kevin Oestreicher (@koestreicher34) December 12, 2025

On the season, Pickens has 78 receptions for 1,179 yards (15.1 average) and eight touchdowns. All career highs, and there’s still four games left.

Pickens is coming off a lackluster performance against the Detroit Lions, however. He went back to his old ways, displaying a lack of effort on multiple occasions. He did not even try to catch a deep pass from Dak Prescott late in the game.

Former NFL cornerback Richard Sherman ripped Pickens for not being productive in the Dallas Cowboys’ 44-30 loss to the Detroit Lions on Thursday night. Pickens had just five receptions for 37 yards.

“The big story here is George Pickens. George Pickens, throughout the game, especially late in the game, just looked uninterested in playing football,” Sherman said on Amazon’s postgame show. “And that’s what you can’t have. If you’re going to be a superstar, if you want to be the best receiver in the National Football League, you can never be disengaged. It doesn’t matter if the game is going your way or not going your way. You can’t just disappear in these games, or else you’re not going to have an impact.

“And just right here, cruising, cruising routes. You’re the guy. You’re the guy. CeeDee Lamb is not in this game. He’s out. And you get intercepted on your slant routes. And you can’t be the guy and half-a– it. I’m sorry. That’s just unacceptable.”

Pickens, who caught wind...