The Dallas Cowboys have already lived through one high-profile contract standoff, and they’re determined not to let history repeat itself with George Pickens. Last offseason, the franchise’s relationship with star pass rusher Micah Parsons deteriorated after he failed to land a long-term extension. Now, the uncertainty over Pickens presents itself in a similar way.
Parsons skipped most of the team’s offseason program and stayed away from training camp entirely.
The tension lingered into the summer before Dallas ultimately dealt him to the Green Bay Packers ahead of the regular season.
Now, a situation of the same makeup may be brewing, this time involving their prized wide receiver Pickens.
The Cowboys are widely expected to use the franchise tag on Pickens next offseason. Whether that designation leads to a long-term deal remains unclear.
What is certain, however, is that Pickens won’t technically be under contract until he signs the tag, and there’s little expectation that he would rush to do so.
If he follows the standard playbook for tagged players seeking security, Pickens could sit out offseason activities and potentially skip training camp while negotiations unfold.
However, head coach Brian Schottenheimer isn’t sounding any alarms: “This is going to play out the way it’s supposed to play out,” Schottenheimer said Thursday at the NFL Scouting Combine.
“GP loves football. My relationship with GP doesn’t change, just like it didn’t change with CeeDee or Dak or those guys that were going through certain things. It’s all part of the process. It’s the business side of it.”
Cowboys confident of avoiding Parsons precedent
The difference this time, at least publicly, is tone. While the Parsons situation escalated into a trade, Schottenheimer emphasized the importance of continuing with the wideout.
He pointed to ongoing relationships with quarterback Dak Prescott and fellow WR CeeDee Lamb as examples of negotiations that didn’t fracture locker-room chemistry.
Lamb, notably, signed a four-year, $136 million extension prior to the 2024 season, including $100 million guaranteed. That deal reset expectations within the building and perhaps complicated Pickens‘ price tag.
After a breakout 2025 campaign, Pickens has a strong case to command elite money.
He led the Cowboys in targets (137), receptions (93), receiving yards (1,429), and touchdowns (eight), emerging as the focal point of the passing attack.
If Lamb is earning $34 million per year, Pickens may reasonably seek comparable – or even higher – annual value.
That’s where the franchise tag becomes both leverage and risk. It gives Dallas short-term control but offers no long-term security for the player.
For someone coming off a career year, betting on himself while avoiding injury risk in voluntary settings could be a logical move.
Schottenheimer staying positive
Schottenheimer, though, remains optimistic: When asked if Pickens will remain in Dallas beyond 2026, he said: “I hope [so]. Everything that I’ve been around George from the time he got here… I know this guy is a competitor and loves football.”
He even joked about beating Pickens in a free-throw contest in his office. Still, the Cowboys‘ recent history looms large.
The Parsons trade serves as a reminder that contract disputes can spiral quickly when expectations diverge.
Whether Dallas finds common ground with Pickens – or faces another prolonged stalemate – may hinge on how aggressively both sides push in the coming months.
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