George Pickens gave the Dallas Cowboys exactly what they hoped for in 2025, but his contract situation is now casting a shadow over the offseason, a concern for Jerry Jones and company. After a breakout first year in the Cowboys, the star wide receiver remains unsigned despite being hit with the franchise tag.
That means one of the Cowboys’ most important offensive players is currently unable to take part in the team’s offseason program.
Adam Schefter Breaks Down George Pickens’ Absence From Cowboys’ Workouts
According to ESPN insider Adam Schefter, this may not be resolved anytime soon. With no long-term agreement in place, questions are growing louder about how long this standoff could last.
The concern around Pickens’ absence centers on one simple issue: Until he signs the franchise tender, he cannot officially report to the Cowboys’ facility. That point was laid out clearly by Schefter during a recent ESPN appearance while discussing the Cowboys’ offseason situation and the likelihood of Pickens participating in team activities this spring.
“Well, he is not allowed to report to the Cowboys facility unless he signs his franchise tag,” Schefter said. “And he’s not signing his franchise tag anytime soon, which means by the transit of property, if he hasn’t signed and he can’t be there, he’s not going to be there until they have some sort of deal.”
Schefter then pushed the timeline concern further, explaining that this could easily become one of those NFL contract disputes that linger into the summer.
“So literally, unless the two sides can make some sort of progress, we’re not going to see George Pickens during the offseason program. The chances are, as is the case with many of these situations, they come down to the deadline in mid-July, whether they can get the deal done in time or not,” he added.
.@AdamSchefter has the latest on George Pickens’ status with the Cowboys and when he could report to the team’s facility đź‘€ pic.twitter.com/WUHs6ohQ9s
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) March 30, 2026
That update is especially notable because Pickens is coming off the best year of his career. In 2025, he recorded 93 receptions, 1,429 receiving yards, and nine touchdowns, earning his first Pro Bowl nod and quickly becoming one of Dak Prescott’s most trusted targets.
While the contract issue is clearly unresolved, the Cowboys have not publicly shown signs of panic. Head coach Brian Schottenheimer recently addressed Pickens’ future and tried to strike a positive tone when asked about the wideout’s long-term place with the franchise.
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“GP loves it here. We love GP. We have plans for GP to be here for a long time, so we’ll let the business side of this thing play out and see where it goes,” Schottenheimer said via Tommy Yarrish of DallasCowboys.com.
That comment came in the context of the Cowboys discussing how important Pickens is to the offense, particularly after the chemistry he built with Prescott during his first season. Schottenheimer also noted that Pickens has been working away from the facility, including time spent with Prescott and CeeDee Lamb, which he views as a meaningful sign even if the receiver is absent from official team activities.
“He’s excited about that. He’s looking forward to that,” Schottenheimer added. “And that’s where, again, the fact he’s working and throwing with Dak and some of the other guys, that to me is more important than anything because you have to come up with that me-to-you factor. You know, Dak’s thrown to CeeDee for however many years so those two guys working together, I think, is going to be huge moving into year two.”
That does offer some reassurance, but it does not change the broader reality. If a long-term extension is not reached by July 15, Pickens would either have to play on the tag or sit out. For now, the Cowboys still have time, but unless meaningful progress happens soon, this storyline looks set to follow the Cowboys deep into the offseason.
