Lamb had for so long been the focal point of a defense's game plan, but that changed in 2025.
Some NFL offenses? They have one legitimate No. 1 weapon, and a defense can easily shift focus to shut that player down, and for years, that player for the Dallas Cowboys was CeeDee Lamb.
With the Cowboys' offense running through Lamb for years, he didn't get much help once Amari Cooper, Michael Gallup, and others were moved on.
It was The CeeDee Lamb Show. Yet he still thrived, as the only weapon Dak Prescott could use to hurt a defense.
Then 2025 happened, and the Cowboys traded for George Pickens.
Suddenly, Lamb had a fellow No. 1 receiver in the ranks. And defenses didn't know who to try to take away.
As it turned out, Lamb's presence meant that Pickens was able to stuff the stat sheet (1,429 yards, 9 TDs). Conversely, when Pickens heated up, he was taken away, and CeeDee stepped up (1,077 yards, 3 TDs).
But for Lamb, who was on the Ross Tucker podcast, what Pickens was able to do for him on game day was something he doesn't take for granted.
"Oh, it was amazing," Lamb said on having Pickens dictate coverage. "My first two years, I was a bit spoiled, I was surrounded by a great group of guys. I was able to get one-on-ones. Being able to develop into who I am, to take those challenges and being able to exceed, essentially. It was tough.
"So having GP, oh my God, y'all come roll this way. I pray he go for 300 [yards]. I literally tell him, "Bro, go for 250 today." Like, do it because the day they get off me, I'm going to help you."
It was the true definition of pick your poison.
Defenses can't double both, which means either Lamb or Pickens had one-on-one opportunities. So a receiver was eating every game; it was just a matter of who on any given week.
Given what Pickens did for the offense and Lamb, it is easy to see why the franchise wants to keep him around.
Currently franchise-tagged at roughly $27 million for 2026, the thought of what Lamb and Pickens could do in Year 2 of Brian Schottenheimer's offense is a tantalizing thought.
And for Lamb, he loved not being the center of attention in 2025.
If Pickens is a Cowboy in 2026, he likely won't be again, either.