While George Pickens may not be thrilled with being slapped with the franchise tag, even if it would pay him more than $27 million for the upcoming 2026 campaign if he and the Dallas Cowboys can't agree on a long-term contract, he's apparently still putting in the work to be the absolute best he can be when the regular season rolls around. At least that's what Dak Prescott is saying.
Speaking to the media over the weekend at the Children's Cancer Fund 36th Anniversary Gala, Prescott revealed that he and Pickens have been working out together recently and that things have been going swimmingly. Smartly, however, Dak chose not to engage in any conversations about his teammate's ongoing contract negotiations.
"We're just working, no different than I have any offseason," Prescott said. "Obviously the first real offseason with George being a part of it. He showed up, he's been active, he's looked great. Super excited. I'm leaving all the contract talks to the front office."
Assuming Pickens isn't traded ahead of or during this week's draft, which it doesn't seem he will be, he and the Cowboys have until July 15 to work out a long-term extension. And if that doesn't happen, he simply plays the 2026 season on the aforementioned franchise tag. He could refuse, of course, but that would mean sitting out, not getting paid, and still being locked to Dallas. And that's simply not going to be a thing.
Dallas Cowboys QB Dak Prescott says George Pickens looks great in offseason workouts
Acquired by Dallas last May from the Pittsburgh Steelers, who made him the 52nd overall pick in the 2022 draft, Pickens stepped in and showed out.
Sure, he got off to a slow start, catching just three passes for 30 yards in the Cowboys' season-opening loss to the rival Philadelphia Eagles. But outside of the regular-season finale that meant absolutely nothing, that was his worst game of the year.
From Week 1 on, for the most part, the former Georgia Bulldog was an absolute menace and set new career highs across the board, tallying 93 receptions for 1,493 yards and nine touchdowns, thus leading Dallas in each category.
To be fair, CeeDee Lamb missed three full games and the vast majority of another, but that doesn't diminish what Pickens accomplished in earning his first trip to the Pro Bowl and a Second-Team All-Pro selection.
Prescott, who had a stellar season of his own in completing 67.3 percent of his passes for 4,552 yards with 30 touchdowns against 10 interceptions, clearly had chemistry with Pickens from the get-go, and one would assume that after a full season together and now these offseason workouts together, the duo will be even more dynamic in 2026.
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