The Dallas Cowboys already know George Pickens’ next deal will hurt their pockets. Chad Johnson thinks another monster season could make the bill uncomfortable even for Jerry Jones.
Johnson discussed Pickens’ future on “Nightcap” after CeeDee Lamb and Dak Prescott both urged Dallas to keep Pickens in town. If he keeps producing like a No. 1 receiver, his price may climb beyond what Dallas wants to pay.
Chad Johnson Warns Cowboys About George Pickens’ Price
“Jerry [Jones] is not gonna be able to afford it,” Johnson said during the Sunday night edition of ‘Nightcap.’
Shannon Sharpe had another solution.
“Hey, get Pickens one of them old Kawhi deals,” Sharpe joked. “Allegedly, one of those Kawhi deals where he goes to a dealership and signs autographs. That’s another $3 million.”
Sharpe kept the bit going, noting Jones has business interests beyond football and joking that Lamb could simply stumble across a few million dollars hidden in an abandoned house.
“Jerry’s worth a lot of money, so he got a lot of things going on,” Sharpe said. “They find ways.”
The NFL salary cap is less flexible than a “Nightcap” comedy sketch.
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Pickens is playing 2026 on a fully guaranteed $27.3 million franchise tag after Dallas allowed the July 15 deadline for a long-term extension to pass. League rules prevent the Cowboys from extending him until after their final regular-season game in January.
Pickens caught 93 passes for 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns in 2025. His 90.6 PFN WR Impact score ranked third among NFL receivers, giving his camp evidence that he belongs near the top of the market.
NFL WR Market Keeps Getting More Expensive
That market has not exactly been waiting politely for Dallas.
The five highest-paid receivers by average annual value are Jaxon Smith-Njigba at $42.15 million, Ja’Marr Chase at $40.25 million, Drake London at $35.25 million, and Justin Jefferson and Zay Flowers at $35 million apiece.
Lamb sits behind them at $34 million per season.
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Dallas could be looking at two receivers making well above $30 million annually if it keeps Pickens long-term.
Jones has insisted that it is possible. He said in February that he wants Pickens to “be a Cowboy” for a long time, while Lamb has made clear he would have no problem with Pickens eventually earning more than him.
Pickens has not publicly demanded a specific figure. Earlier this month, he said he wants something comparable to what other top receivers are receiving and called his expectations “nothing too crazy.”
Another season resembling 2025 could change the definition of crazy.
Dak Prescott recently warned that Pickens’ price is “only going to go up.” The market supports that argument. Smith-Njigba reset the position at $42.15 million per year in March, while London and Flowers have since landed deals worth at least $35 million annually.
Dallas could use the franchise tag on Pickens again in 2027, but that would cost approximately $32.8 million, or 120% of his current tag.
Johnson’s point is less about Jones’ bank account than the economics surrounding his receiver. Pickens is coming off an elite season, and the market keeps moving upward around him.
Sharpe can joke about dealerships and mattresses full of cash. The Cowboys still have to make the numbers work.
If Pickens produces another huge season, Jerry may need more than couch cushion money.
