George Pickens was a sensation for the Dallas Cowboys last season. He showed the world just how physically gifted he is with a breakout season that included 93 receptions for 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns. He and CeeDee Lamb combined to become arguably the best wide receiver duo in the NFL (Puka Nacua and Davante Adams certainly have an argument).
Pickens was paid $3.656 million for his troubles and elevated his status in the game to a lower-level tier 1 pass-catcher. Now, he is going to play on the franchise tag and receive a hefty raise to $27 million in 2026.
After that, he will become an unrestricted free agent and will undoubtedly want a long-term deal similar to his teammate, Lamb, and other top wideouts like Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Ja'Marr Chase, and Justin Jefferson.
Having followed Pickens since he played at Hoover High in Alabama, the University of Georgia, the Pittsburgh Steelers, and now the Cowboys, we can say with unbridled confidence that Pickens is still too unpredictable to sign a 4-year deal like his similarly talented counterparts across the league.
The Cowboys need to think long and hard if paying George Pickens is worth it
If healthy, there is little doubt that Pickens will replicate his 2025 success. He is still opposite an elite WR in Lamb and has Dak Prescott delivering dimes to him. With all the talent the Cowboys have at their disposal, moving the ball easily and often should be a fait accompli. Another 90-100 catch, 1400+ yard season feels well within reach.
Placing the franchise tag on Pickens was a wise move, and he deserves the raise he will get while under it, but after this season, the Cowboys will have to figure out a way to sign Pickens to a two-year deal at the most, or let him go - regardless of the team's success. And Jerry Jones has shown he's willing to part with players, despite what the fanbase wants.
Pickens has had trouble keeping his head in the game since he was a high schooler, and it continues to be an issue. He is 25 years old now, and after three years in the NFL, he has not shown the type of impulse control necessary to back up the Brink's truck and make a fixture in your offense into the 2030s.
In three seasons as a pro, Pickens has been fined 16 times and paid a total of $220,000 to the league. He incurred six such fines with the Cowboys last season, making it fair to question his desire to cure his bad habits.
Should Pickens have another All-Pro season, the Cowboys fanbase will be clamoring to compensate Pickens on the same level as Lamb, but it would be a huge gamble and likely a mistake. You simply can't afford to pay $150 million to a guy who is unpredictable from week to week. Imagine the ups and downs of having Pickens signed for a minimum of four years.
George Pickens is like a high-risk/high reward tech hedge fund investment; when it's good, it feels electric, but when it's bad, the bottom line suffers, and so would the Cowboys' should they put all their stock in him.
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