The Dallas Cowboys might have snagged a star in George Pickens, but keeping him could be a financial fumble! This offseason, the Cowboys pulled off what seemed like a brilliant move, trading for wide receiver George Pickens. They sent a 2026 third-round pick and a 2027 fifth-round pick to the Steelers, receiving Pickens and a 2027 sixth-round pick in return. To top it off, they're paying him a relatively modest $3.656 million for the current season.
Pickens is making waves with impressive stats: 32 receptions for 525 yards and six touchdowns. At this rate, he's on track for career highs, potentially reaching 91 catches for 1,488 yards and a staggering 17 touchdowns.
But here's where it gets controversial... Pickens is set to become an unrestricted free agent in March, and his value is skyrocketing. Experts predict his next contract could easily exceed $30 million per season!
The big question is: can the Cowboys afford to keep him?
The franchise tag, which could be an option, is estimated to be around $23.958 million for 2026. However, it's unlikely Pickens would be thrilled to play under that arrangement.
Pickens has made it clear he's enjoying his time in Dallas. He said, “I wouldn’t mind staying in Dallas. The guys in the locker room are super cool; the energy’s great. But like I said, I always want to showcase my talents.”
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is known for delaying contract talks. He's likely to wait until after the season before seriously considering an extension. Jones admitted, “We’ll weigh that. We knew full well that if things really went like we want them to go, that certainly we need to think about having some room available if we’re going to pay a second receiver at that level.”
Adding another layer of complexity, Pickens' agent, David Mulugheta, also represents Micah Parsons. The Cowboys' relationship with Mulugheta isn't exactly smooth. Jones even admitted he didn't know who Mulugheta was earlier this year.
Pickens himself is focused on the present. “I’m definitely in the middle of the season, so I’m not fully, fully thinking about [the next contract]. I just want to keep going and see how far we can get in the season as far as playoffs and stuff like that.”
Ultimately, Pickens has a clear priority: “Definitely winning. Just because that’s been my resume the whole time. I won in high school, I won at Georgia, so that’s probably, definitely, winning. And I always think about winning.”
What do you think? Will the Cowboys find a way to keep Pickens, or will he be playing elsewhere next season? Share your thoughts in the comments!
