Dak Prescott just sent an unmistakable message Jerry Jones can't ignore

Is it really a Dallas Cowboys offseason without a contract situation that has everyone holding their breath? The answer is no.

With the NFL yet to crown a Super Bowl champion, Dallas is already in full offseason mode, with all eyes on pending free agent George Pickens. While the franchise hasn’t officially started negotiating with the wide receiver yet, Dak Prescott is making it clear he’s not losing one of his No. 1 receivers.

The star quarterback spoke with Cowboys reporter Clarence Hill Jr. after a Pro Bowl practice on Monday and emphasized the importance of getting Pickens signed. Prescott then took things a step further, letting it be known he’s ready to put some action behind his words.

While expressing confidence in Jerry Jones and company, Prescott sent a message to the front office that if he needs to get involved, he will.

Cowboys QB Dak Prescott is ready to get involved in George Pickens negotiations if necessary

Prescott explained that Pickens is an important piece of Dallas’ offense, serving as a huge factor in everything the unit tries to do. The veteran quarterback also referred to the soon-to-be free agent as a No. 1 receiver, alongside CeeDee Lamb, who is also a No. 1.

Simply put, no quarterback wants to lose a weapon like Pickens, so Prescott is prepared to flex his status as the face of the franchise to make sure the All-Pro wideout is back with the team next season.

It wasn't long ago that Prescott had to rely on guys like Allen Hurns, Noah Brown, a post-ACL Michael Gallup, and Tavon Austin. Just last season (2024), Jalen Tolbert was Dallas' de facto WR2. He doesn't want any part of going through that again.

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All told, the quarterback shouldn’t really have to get involved, because retaining Pickens is a no-brainer decision. However, the Cowboys have fumbled no-brainer moves before, and Prescott knows that. That’s why he’ll be dialed in on the team’s negotiations with Pickens, to make sure everything goes according to plan.

In his first season with Dallas, Pickens hauled in 93 passes for 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns. The career year earned him his first Pro Bowl appearance and a second-team All-Pro selection. It also earned him a lot of money. It's just a matter of how much and which team will pay up.

Fortunately, the Cowboys have a head start, as they can negotiate a new deal before he even becomes a free agent. They can also franchise tag him, but the best-case scenario is that Jerry Jones gets a drama-free deal done with the 24-year-old.