The Dallas Cowboys are betting big on George Pickens this season, and so far the gamble looks like it might pay off.
Pickens showed up for mandatory minicamp even though he’s playing under the franchise tag. That alone tells you something about where his head is at. Quarterback Dak Prescott didn’t hide his excitement about having the receiver on the field, talking up Pickens’ energy and what he brings to the offense right away.
“His route-running is elite,” Prescott said. “The way he reads leverage and creates separation makes it easy to just put the ball near him and let him work. He looks physically dominant out there. He’s ready to score touchdowns.”
That’s the kind of quote that makes Cowboys fans feel good about the offense this year.
The tag deadline came and went without drama
July 15 was the deadline for franchise-tagged players to sign long-term extensions. The Cowboys and Pickens didn’t get a deal done. But instead of making noise about it, Pickens kept his focus on football.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport posted on X that Pickens is leaving the contract stuff to his agent and concentrating entirely on the game. Pickens himself said at minicamp: “I’m here to definitely help the team. Not thinking about the tag and all that. It’s football first. You know what I mean?”
That kind of mindset matters in a locker room. When your star receiver isn’t sulking or threatening a holdout, it keeps everybody locked in during the offseason program.
Don’t expect a trade anytime soon
ESPN’s Dan Graziano shot down the idea that the contract situation might push Dallas to trade Pickens before the 2027 season. The Cowboys have too much leverage here. They could franchise tag him again next year for about $32.8 million. That sounds like a lot until you realize six receivers in the league already make more than that.
Yes, CeeDee Lamb is getting paid big money. But the Cowboys can absolutely afford two elite receivers. The front office seems committed to keeping that dual-threat passing attack rolling. Pickens and Lamb together gives Prescott a ridiculous amount of talent to work with.
For now, the contract drama is basically a non-story. Pickens is showing up, working hard and letting his agent handle the business side. That’s about as good as it gets for a team staring at a critical season.
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