The Dallas Cowboys have a contract problem that keeps hanging around, and George Pickens is at the heart of it. While the wide receiver prepares to play under the franchise tag, the clock is already ticking toward an even more expensive decision.
Now, Dak Prescott has made it clear where he stands, putting more pressure on Jerry Jones to get something done.
Dak Prescott Sends Jerry Jones a Clear Message on George Pickens
Prescott did not dance around the issue when Kay Adams asked him about Pickens on the “Up & Adams Show.” The Cowboys quarterback praised the receiver’s approach to football while making an equally clear point about his value.
“Very impressed, but not surprised,” Prescott said about Pickens. “You know, George, you know he loves football. And at the end of the day, it’s not for the money.”
This praise quickly turned into a message for the Cowboys’ front office.
“However, he should get every dollar that he deserves because he’s a hell of a player,” Prescott added. “And we should probably give it to him sooner than later because it’s only going to go up.”
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Pickens is currently playing under a fully guaranteed $27.298 million franchise tag for the 2026 season. Dallas could not reach a long-term agreement before the NFL’s mid-July deadline, meaning the Cowboys cannot sign him to a multi-year extension until January 2027.
“He should get every dollar he deserves… we should probably give it to him sooner than later.” 💰
Dak Prescott’s MUST-HEAR answer about George Pickens’ contract situation.@dallascowboys | @dak | @George33101361 | @heykayadams pic.twitter.com/1eyhy5SiKO
— Up & Adams (@UpAndAdamsShow) August 13, 2026
This leaves Dallas with a tricky situation.
Pickens already showed what he can bring to Prescott’s offense after joining the Cowboys from Pittsburgh. In 2025, he posted 93 receptions for 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns while earning Pro Bowl and second-team All-Pro honors.
Prescott believes Pickens’ contract status will not change the way he plays.
“He just wants to play football,” Prescott continued. “And so, franchise tag or not, it gives him an opportunity to go out there and not only play the game that he loves, but play with a team that has accepted him for who he is and allows him to go be the George that we love.”
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This confidence matters because Dallas needs Pickens to be focused while the contract situation remains unresolved. Prescott also believes the receiver enjoys his place in the locker room and wants to remain with the Cowboys.
“And I think he enjoys being in this environment, being with his teammates, and playing for the Dallas Cowboys,” Prescott said.
The quarterback then delivered perhaps his strongest endorsement of all. He said, “So, contract or not, you’re going to get the best George.”
The Cowboys’ financial situation, however, makes the decision far from simple. Prescott’s contract has a $60 million annual average value, while CeeDee Lamb already occupies another massive piece of the team’s payroll. Dallas also recently gave defensive tackle Quinnen Williams a three-year, $105.9 million extension worth $35.3 million per year.
Still, Prescott’s argument is straightforward: waiting could make Pickens even more expensive.
Lamb has also pushed Jones publicly to find a solution, saying, ” Listen, this is my advocation: ‘@ Jerry, can you please figure out a way?… Let’s figure it out, and it’s going to get you a couple more championships.”
For Jones, the decision ultimately comes down to balancing Pickens’ price against his importance to the offense. The Cowboys already know what the receiver can provide, as last season, according to PFN’s WR Impact Metric, he ranked third in the league with an impact score of 90.6.
Now they have to decide whether paying him sooner is easier than paying an even bigger bill later.
