Talented wide receiver George Pickens stole the headlines when he skipped the Dallas Cowboys’ voluntary OTAs ahead of the team’s mandatory minicamp on June 16. Pickens, who signed the franchise tag for the 2026 season earlier this year, has reportedly been unhappy with his contract standoff with the Cowboys.
However, Pickens has reported for the mandatory minicamp, and former NFL players Emmanuel Acho and LeSean McCoy had some advice for the Cowboys star.
Emmanuel Acho, LeSean McCoy Side With George Pickens Over Contract Dispute
During a recent segment of the “Speakeasy” show, Acho and McCoy sided with Pickens in his contract dispute with Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, who has been involved in several standoffs with star players over the years.
“George Pickens can’t play, bro,” Acho said. “Cowboys fans, understand that George Pickens is doing the wise thing for himself and his family. You go out there and you tear your hamstring off the bone, you go out there and do an ACL in practice.”
McCoy then stepped up and raised more issues about playing without a new contract. “What about the Achilles that be happening when non-contact, you know, drills? Like this is big. He cannot go out there and play.”
McCoy then said that Pickens should go to minicamp, run on one play, and then sit out by saying he’s hurt, which will send the message to Jones and the Cowboys.
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“Fans, they are so ignorant about what the players have to go through,” Acho added. “Fans are like, ‘Pickens is an idiot. How are you gonna turn down $27 million?’ Hopefully, the tide is starting to turn.”
“If the Cowboys aren’t paying him this year, they are never paying him,” he continued. “If you’re going to pay George Pickens, you’re paying him now, when you’re paying him $35 million a year. By next year, you’re gonna have to pay him $42 million.”
The Cowboys placed the non-exclusive franchise tag on Pickens in February, which he signed in April. The franchise tag guarantees Pickens a salary of $27.3 million for next season, and the wide receiver will reportedly not get a multiyear contract extension before next month’s deadline for tagged players to sign.
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Brian Schottenheimer Lavishes Praise on Pickens
While speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer detailed how the team would ease Pickens back into action and his expectations for the wide receiver next season.
“Really great visits with George,” Schottenheimer said. “Fired up to have him back. He’s fired up to be here. He’ll do all the mock, he’ll do all the individual, and we’ll just keep him out of team, just let him watch. He’ll be coach Pickens today during the team period. I know how he feels about this team, this locker room, what we’re building here.”
“So I’m not surprised to see him, and I’m thrilled he’s here,” Schottenheimer added. “The OTAs in the offseason program is voluntary, and this is the one part of it that’s mandatory, and he’s not the only player that hasn’t been at camps around the league. But I think he just shows his commitment to the guys in that locker room and helping us win a Super Bowl.”
Pickens and quarterback Dak Prescott formed one of the most lethal offensive partnerships in the league. The former was one of the most productive wide receivers in the league, tallying 1,429 yards on 93 receptions, resulting in nine touchdowns to earn a PFSN Wide Receiver Impact score of 88.4, good for No. 3 in the NFL.
