The Dallas Cowboys front office looked like geniuses during the 2025 season for bringing in George Pickens. They traded for the polarizing wide receiver and didn’t give up that much draft capital, and Pickens responded with an impressive breakout season where he put his talent on full display.
Midway through that breakout season, fans began calling for Jerry Jones to iron out a long term deal with Pickens. The WR was set to be a free agent in 2026, and it made all the sense in the world to lock him up before he reached free agency. In reality, the team should have had a long term contract in place when they traded for him, but they didn’t know Pickens would break out like he did.
Free agency rolled around and the Cowboys kept quiet on contract negotiations. Instead, they did the usual franchise tag dance, looking to lock Pickens up for the upcoming season while giving themselves time to work out a deal. Those negotiations clearly didn’t get very far, though.
Dallas Cowboys won’t negotiate long-term contract with George Pickens
On Wednesday, Cowboys COO Stephen Jones revealed that the team has no plans to sign Pickens to a contract extension. Instead, they’re going to let him play on the franchise tag for the 2026 season. That is, if Pickens even decides to play for them. There has been no confirmation that Pickens is willing to play a full season on the tag, as he hasn’t even signed it yet.
The wide receiver would be making over $27 million if he plays on the tag this season, but he would be making more if given a multi-year contract. If the Cowboys aren’t willing to give it to him, another team will. That would require a trade, but Pickens has the leverage to force his way out if he wants. All he has to do is threaten to not play for the team.
Once again, Jones and the Dallas front office have put themselves in a precarious position due to their lackadaisical contract negotiations philosophy.
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