Another contract storyline is on the horizon for the Dallas Cowboys next offseason, this time involving wide receiver George Pickens, who arrived this season through a trade with the Pittsburgh Steelers and emerged as the team’s top receiver in 2025.
Still on his rookie deal, Pickens will enter an intriguing market situation, potentially becoming the hottest name among wide receivers. Quarterback Dak Prescott shared his advice with the receiver on how to approach it.
Dak Prescott Shares His Thoughts on How George Pickens Should Handle Contract Talks
Pickens’ arrival in Dallas has been everything the franchise hoped for, and more. Throughout the offseason, the expectation was that the team would pursue a receiver to complement Brian Schottenheimer’s offense, and Pickens quickly became the unit’s preferred target.
Ranked as the third-best wide receiver in PFSN’s WR Impact Metric with an 89.4 score, Pickens enters Week 18 third in receiving yards with 1,420, along with nine touchdowns, both leading the Cowboys. He has proven to be a true WR1, and his value has risen significantly compared to what the team paid to acquire him.
As he heads into an offseason that will shape his financial future, Prescott offered advice on how Pickens should approach contract talks, aiming to secure the best deal for himself while avoiding unnecessary tension, something that has become common in Dallas in recent years.
“Don’t let it get personal. At the end of the day, this is business. Both sides are gonna want negotiations. Honestly, me and Jerry’s wasn’t pretty at all, right?” Prescott said (per Patrik Walker.
“Don’t let it get personal. At the end of the day, this is business. Both sides are gonna want negotiations. Honestly, me and Jerry’s wasn’t pretty at all, right?
“Don’t let it get personal.”
– Dak Prescott’s advice to George Pickens entering free agency talks with the #Cowboys pic.twitter.com/xhVLDqKPsT
— Patrik [No C] Walker (@VoiceOfTheStar) January 1, 2026
As the quarterback pointed out, his own contract talks with the Cowboys had their share of conflict. Prescott first received two franchise tags before signing a four-year, $160 million contract in 2021. During that negotiation period, Jerry Jones and his methods faced criticism.
His second extension, however, came as a surprise just before the 2024 season opener. Prescott signed a new four-year, $240 million deal, becoming the highest-paid quarterback in the NFL, despite long-standing speculation that he might reach the open market after his initial contract.
Micah Parsons’ negotiations, meanwhile, were filled with tension and eventually led to his trade, creating a major rift with the franchise owner and provoking controversial comments from Jones during the process. Prescott’s advice is aimed at steering Pickens away from that type of situation, one the Cowboys clearly want to avoid repeating.
