The Dallas Cowboys reportedly have not opened contract talks with George Pickens yet. On the surface, that may seem like a big deal, but it is still extremely early in the offseason, and the team is currently focused on finalizing new defensive coordinator Christian Parker's staff.
It stands to reason that talks will begin in some capacity during the NFL Combine later this month, when executives, coaches, and agents all gather in Indianapolis.
Whenever negotiations begin, Cowboys fans will hope Jerry Jones doesn't play games as he did with Micah Parsons last year. If there is any silver lining to trading Parsons, it's that Dallas now has the flexibility to pay Pickens whatever he wants.
With Parsons standing right next to him, Pickens was asked about that possibility by Clarence Hill Jr. of All City DLLS at the Pro Bowl in San Francisco. You can catch Pickens' interview at the 19:35 mark in the video below.
"Everything in life is a possibility, but we definitely could have used Micah Parsons," Pickens said. "Definitely could've used his talents. We know he was in Dallas for a long time; he loved it. But all I can say is that it's a very high possibility."
Cowboys WR George Pickens didn't mince words about taking Micah Parsons' payday
Watching the interview, it’s clear Pickens tried to steer away from the question. He wants his money, no doubt, but he also understands the magnitude of the Parsons trade and what he meant to the franchise and Cowboys fans.
The truth of the matter is that the Cowboys really could’ve used Parsons this past season. While he alone wouldn’t have saved the defense, maybe we wouldn’t be talking about 2025 as the worst defensive season in franchise history if Parsons still had a star on his helmet.
And the quiet part out loud is that the Parsons trade, as much as it hurt (and may still hurt), created the necessary wiggle room for the front office to afford Pickens. Make no mistake: If the Cowboys made Parsons the highest-paid defensive player in the NFL, Pickens would be playing elsewhere in 2026.
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As much as Pickens tried not to take Hill's bait, he knows that it's a "high possibility" that what was supposed to be Parsons' money becomes his in the near future.
The benefits of paying Pickens are obvious. Keeping him ensures the Cowboys remain one of the most dangerous offenses in football while maximizing what’s left of Dak Prescott’s prime.
On the other hand, had Dallas paid Parsons, they’d be one step closer to having a competent defense, which is ultimately what kept them out of the playoffs in 2025. The Cowboys were carried by their offense, but would that have been possible without Pickens? Probably not.
Whether you think the Cowboys are better off with Pickens or Parsons, it’s a moot conversation if Jerry Jones doesn’t get a deal done and aggressively address the defense in free agency.