George Pickens was not meant to be the main answer for the Dallas Cowboys last season. He was supposed to help by being the second guy next to CeeDee Lamb. The idea was to take some pressure off and give the offense another option.
When the Cowboys passed on drafting a receiver early in 2025 and traded for Pickens instead, it felt like a simple answer. Then the season began, and it did not stay as simple. Now there is another contract standoff in Dallas.
George Pickens and Dak Prescott Stay in Sync as Dallas Faces a Decision
Somewhere along the way last year, Pickens stopped looking like a complementary piece. The offense started running through him more than what was planned for.
When Lamb missed three games with a high-ankle sprain, Pickens took a big step and led the team in catches, yards, and touchdowns. That kind of production would have already secured him a contract extension elsewhere, but the story isn’t the same in Dallas.
Before the upcoming season, Dallas placed the non-exclusive franchise tag on him (worth about $27.2 million for 2026) to see if both sides could reach a long-term deal. However, so far, Pickens and the Cowboys aren’t yet close to agreeing on a deal, and the wide receiver could miss offseason workouts.
In the meantime, Dak Prescott recently talked about his offseason plans with Pickens and also addressed the lingering questions around the receiver’s contract.
“We’re just working, no different than I have any offseason,” Prescott said during the Children’s Cancer Fund anniversary gala. “Obviously, first real offseason with George being a part of it, and he’s showed up and been active, has looked great. So super excited, leaving all that, those contract talks and that off to the front office.”
Prescott also discussed Pickens’ contract situation back in March and expressed urgency to resolve the situation. “At the end of the day, bet on yourself,” Prescott said. “He’s a hell of a player. Hopefully we can get him long-term and sign that but, if not, I think the way he plays the game, the person that he is, he’ll be just fine.”
Nevertheless, the numbers are where things tighten up. Dallas already has a lot of money tied up in Prescott and Lamb. That doesn’t leave much space for another big receiver deal. And Pickens, after a season that granted him an 88.4 PFSN WR Impact Score, isn’t going to come cheap.
A trade is still a possibility, but it doesn’t feel like it’s gaining much momentum right now. That could change, but for the moment, it is quiet. Based on how Dallas has improved its defense so far this offseason, the team will likely agree to a deal with Pickens before the start of the season, as it did with Lamb back in 2024.
Meanwhile, Pickens will not be part of official team activities until he signs the non-exclusive franchise tag, but Prescott has been working with him all the while, keeping things normal and keeping their connection on the field intact.
