George Pickens will play for the Dallas Cowboys for at least one more season. Pickens received the franchise tag, meaning the Cowboys retain his rights for the season, with July 15 as the deadline for a long-term deal between the two parties. But not everyone is sure it’ll happen.
George Pickens Not Expected To Sign a Long-Term Contract in 2025
Despite a spectacular first year in Dallas, the Cowboys aren’t expected to offer him a long-term deal in the upcoming months. Pickens arrived at the team with many doubts about his personality and his acrimonious exit from the Pittsburgh Steelers, and the team wants to play the long game.
In a recent column, NFL reporter Albert Breer wrote about the reasons that Pickens isn’t likely to sign a long-term deal, instead playing under the franchise tag: “With both players, it would be understandable if the team wanted to see another year of evidence that what happened in 2025 was sustainable.
“The Pickens case is a bit thornier. He was unbelievable last year in his first season with Dallas… But do you trust that, once he’s paid, he’ll continue to grow, and continue to work, and continue to be the right kind of guy in the locker room, when problems in those areas led to the Steelers giving up on him? The tag gives Dallas the chance to test that a little,” Breer added.
There’s no doubt about how important Pickens was to the Cowboys in 2025. He finished the year with 93 receptions, 1,429 yards, and 9 touchdowns. He had better numbers than CeeDee Lamb, the presumed No. 1 receiver for the team, and finished No. 3 in our PFSN WR Impact Metric with a fantastic 88.4 grade, only behind Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Puka Nacua.
However, it’s difficult to judge the Cowboys’ decision to play it safe before handing out a lucrative long-term extension. Pickens played a single season in Dallas, and they want guarantees that he can replicate those performances in 2026.
Handing a big contract could quickly turn into a mistake.
The team’s financial situation also comes into play. They’re currently $58.4 million above the 2026 cap, and they need to clean their cap space in the next seven days.
Players such as Lamb, Dak Prescott, and Tyler Smith are likely to restructure their contracts, but adding more money to the fold wouldn’t be smart. Pickens left the Pittsburgh Steelers through the back door.
Pickens is a talented receiver, but many reports say he’s a difficult teammate in the locker room. For Dallas, it’s a matter of prevention: they don’t want to let him go, but by placing the tag, they can avoid making a decision they could quickly regret.
