George Pickens Contract Standoff: Cowboys Face Pay-Up Dilemma

0:00On March 31st, Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens is in a contract standoff after a breakout year. The team slapped him with the $27.3 million franchise tag for the 2026 season, buying time until July 15th, to hammer out a long-term deal. No talks have started yet, and it's echoing what happened with Micah Parsons, who got traded to the Green Bay Packers last year after similar drama. Pickens came over from the Pittsburgh Steelers in a trade, last off season, sending Dallas a third-rounder and fifth-rounder the other way. He balled out, catching 93 passes for 1,429 yards, and nine touchdowns over 17 games. That earned him his first Pro Bowl nod and second team all pro-honors, jacking up his market value big time. Cowboys offensive coordinator Brian Shottenheimer made it clear they want Pickens locked in long-term. He said the team loves having him and has plans for the future, but it'll depend on how the business shakes out.

1:00Meanwhile, the market's hot after Jackson Smith and Jigwas, four-year, $168.6 million extension, Shottenheimer dodged questions on Pickens joining voluntary off-season workouts, saying it's all voluntary and it'll play out naturally. Expect him to skip at least part of it, just like Parsons did before avoiding practices and getting dealt. The non-exclusive tag lets Pickens shop around, but Dallas could match any offer or take two first-round picks. This saga's got all the ingredients to dominate Cowboys' headlines through the summer, testing Jerry Jones' willingness to pay up and keep his star. Receiver from Walking.