The Cowboys have been inconsistent for much of the season, but that’s not because of wide receiver George Pickens, who arrived in a trade from the Steelers in the offseason.
Not surprisingly, with the 24-year-old Pickens having put up 58 catches for 908 yards and seven touchdowns in his first 10 games in Dallas, the Cowboys are interested in keeping him around as Pickens potentially heads to free agency next year.
NFL Network reported Sunday the Cowboys would like to figure out a way to sign Pickens for 2026 and perhaps even longer, if they can fit his salary under the cap.
Pickens, selected in the second round of the 2022 draft by the Steelers, was traded to Dallas, along with a 2027 sixth-round pick, in exchange for a third-round pick in 2026 and a fifth-rounder in ‘27.
He’s in the final year of his rookie deal, meaning he’d hit the open market — unless the Cowboys put the franchise tag on him or sign him to a new contract.
Pickens would likely look to Cincinnati’s Ja’Marr Chase as a starting point in contract talks, with Chase having signed a four-year, $161 million deal this past offseason after Pickens’ teammate, CeeDee Lamb, signed one for four years and $136 million the year prior.
If the Cowboys choose to franchise tag Pickens, it would cost around $28 million and they are already lacking in cap space, so they would have to make other moves to open up room.
And NFL Network reported no contract talks have begun between the two sides.
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Pickens said this week of his future, “I’d love to be back.”
Dak Prescott added he believes retaining Pickens would “be a priority in the offseason.”
Dallas will also have to deal with another significant free agent in the offseason, kicker Brandon Aubrey, and teams can only franchise one player per year.
Pickens is represented by David Mulugheta, who is also the agent of Micah Parsons.
During contract talks with Parsons — before the defensive standout was traded to Green Bay just before the regular season started — Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said he didn’t know Mulugheta’s name.
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
