Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys saw wide receiver George Pickens miss voluntary OTAs, prompting continued conversations about his contract. However, as those talks continue, analyst Rich Eisen pointed out a major reason Pickens hasn’t yet earned a lucrative extension like teammate CeeDee Lamb received.
Rich Eisen Weighs In on George Pickens’ Value to Jerry Jones and Cowboys
In a segment of “The Rich Eisen Show” on Wednesday, the host discussed whether Jones should consider paying Pickens a contract comparable to that of Lamb.
“If you’re Jerry Jones and Stephen Jones, I can’t give you a penny more than CeeDee Lamb,” Eisen said. “I would say that right, ‘Hey, listen,’ cuz I do believe it’s the same representatives as Micah Parsons. CeeDee walked, so Micah could run, and then we would trade him.
“CeeDee went through a lot to get that money, and we [Cowboys] put him through a lot to receive that money when we all knew he was going to get it,” Eisen added. “So I can’t pay George Pickens after one year here with his background that he arrived here with. He might have a different body of work off the field than Pittsburgh, but I still can’t give him a long-term deal, making a penny more than CeeDee Lamb.”
Lamb is currently on a four-year, $136 million contract with Dallas, averaging $34 million per year and including $100 million guaranteed. His contract runs through the 2028 season, with void years extending cap implications beyond that.
BE THE GM OF YOUR FAVORITE TEAM: PFN’s FREE NFL Mock Draft Simulator
Earlier this offseason, Lamb, quarterback Dak Prescott, and left guard Tyler Smith all restructured their deals, reportedly freeing up about $66 million in salary cap space while keeping their overall earnings unchanged. It is something high-value players commonly do to improve their team’s roster flexibility.
Could George Pickens top his first season in Dallas? ⭐️ @jacobinfante24 breaks down why 1,400-plus yards and 9 TDs will be tough to clear. 👇️ pic.twitter.com/4C5cU4fHeE
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) June 17, 2026
As for Pickens, he is set to play the 2026 season under the franchise tag, worth approximately $27.3 million. The tag came despite his magnificent performance last season for the Cowboys, which earned him an 88.4 impact score on the PFSN WR Impact Metric, ranking third in the league.
PREDICT THE NFL SEASON: PFN’s FREE NFL Playoff Predictor
However, Pickens has no problem playing under the tag and avoided any fines by attending minicamp. As he signed the franchise tag and is no longer on a rookie deal, any non-excused absence is subject to fines that can’t be forgiven.
Lamb didn’t face this scenario when he was negotiating an extension on his rookie deal. He missed all of training camp in Oxnard, but all accumulated fines were forgiven as he was on a rookie deal.
NFL insider Albert Breer recently indicated that if the Cowboys were to give Pickens an extension, they would likely move on from Lamb in 2028.
“I don’t see a scenario where CeeDee Lamb won’t be on the roster in ’27, I think he’s probably still there,” Breer said. “But signing Pickens could be with the idea that you’re eventually going to move from Lamb to Pickens. And Lamb’s been a great player for them. I think Pickens probably has a little bit of a higher ceiling, but again, that’s a good problem for the Cowboys to have.”
As Breer said, the Cowboys would love to have that kind of problem in 2028, because it would mean Pickens has played exceptionally well for them, which would be the best outcome for all parties involved.
