Pickens Stays with Cowboys, High Expectations

0:00On April 24th, George Pickens just signed his franchise tag with the Cowboys right before the draft kicked off, sparking all kinds of trade rumors. This move locks him in for one year at $27.3 million, making him eligible for trades or team activities. But Dallas made it clear earlier this week. They're not talking long-term deals right now. That signature means Pickens can jump into offseason workouts without missing a beat. He's coming off a monster year with 93 catches, 1429 yards and nine touchdowns, one of the top wideouts in the league. Pairing him with CDLAM again in 2026 will be huge, though affording both on big extensions looks tough for the Cowboys cap. Fans and analysts are buzzing about his future, especially since Dallas prioritized defense in the draft. They grab safety, Caleb Downs at pick 11 and edge-resher Malachi Lawrence at 23, showing up knees without touching receivers early. Pickens stays as the go-to guy on offense unless something shifts. No major trade feels likely anytime soon, but his year 2 and Dallas carry sky-high expectations.

1:09The team sees him as a cornerstone, at least for now, while they figure out the money side. June 1st brings OTAs, then mandatory mini-camp later that month. Pickens will be their grinding, setting the stage for another big season.