Another day, another high-profile wide receiver other than the Dallas Cowboys' George Pickens gets paid. This time, Drake London of the Atlanta Falcons reportedly inked a four-year, $141 million contract extension, including $100 million guaranteed.
It’s got to be frustrating for Pickens, seeing contemporaries cashing in while he still has to prove himself. The Cowboys star must be near the end of his rope. However, as the saying goes, good things come to those who wait, and the patience will be rewarded in due course.
London is undeniably talented and deserves the hefty commitment the Falcons made to him. Yet, his massive pact ultimately gives Pickens' representation more ammunition in negotiations with Dallas — if they resume.
George Pickens' asking price got a lot scarier for Cowboys after Falcons reward Drake London
For better or worse, the Cowboys appear to be dug in on seeing Pickens play on the franchise tag in 2026. He's seemingly gaining leverage by the day, with London's handsome compensation being the latest bargaining chip on the table.
One way or another, a booming receiver market will work in Pickens' favor. Dallas' hardball approach will save some money in the short term. Nevertheless, it figures to cost them more in the long run, as the club has repeatedly experienced firsthand.
London's $35.25 million salary should be the starting point for Pickens. The latter has shown a similar floor and higher ceiling, which the numbers bear out.
With help from Pro Football Reference, let's compare London's per-17-game splits in 2025 to Pickens' stats:
George Pickens 2025 Stats | Drake London's 17-game Average 2025 Stats |
|---|---|
93 receptions (137 targets) | 96.3 receptions (158.7 targets) |
1,429 receiving yards | 1301.9 receiving yards |
15.4 yards per reception | 13.5 yards per reception |
9 receiving touchdowns | 9.9 receiving touchdowns |
Some notable advanced metrics, courtesy of Pro Football Focus ($), also support Pickens' case. His strong 2.35 yards per route run and 120.1 passer rating when targeted narrowly edge out London's 2.34 and 107.8 marks, respectively.
Not to mention, the accolades (or lack thereof) speak for themselves; Pickens' breakout campaign yielded his first Pro Bowl and All-Pro nods.
London would've probably been in the conversation for both honors this season had a tricky PCL sprain not sidelined him for five contests. Be that as it may, availability matters, too, and the former managed to stay healthy to help Dallas.
The Cowboys are only doing themselves a disservice by letting other teams handle business first. Pickens' price keeps rising. Meanwhile, he's handled the situation well, signing his one-year tender offer and moving in silence. How or if the 2022 second-round pick responds to London's deal will be worth monitoring, though.
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