Acquired from the Pittsburgh Steelers last May, George Pickens did exactly what one dreams of doing in a contract year, as he went out had a career campaign for the Dallas Cowboys in 2025.
The 2022 second-rounder was always a solid option during his three-year run in the Steel City, racking up 174 catches for 2,841 yards and 12 touchdowns. But he took things to the next level for America's Team this past season, setting new personal bests across the board with 93 receptions for 1,429 yards with nine touchdowns to earn his first trip to the Pro Bowl as well as a Second-Team All-Pro selection.
With a base salary of $3.656 million, Pickens was easily one of the best values in the entire NFL in 2025. For the Cowboys to bring him back in 2026, however, that figure will certainly need to be a bit bigger. Okay, a lot bigger.
Now, whether that figure gets bigger via the franchise tag or a long-term contract remains to be seen. And that's obviously if Jerry Jones brings him back at all, as there's undoubtedly the possibility that the soon-to-be 25-year-old is wearing a different uniform next season.
Pickens understands that a return may not be up to him, but he has expressed on several occasions that he would like to come back, which he did again recently. And while he didn't offer up exactly how much he's looking for in a new deal (because you just don't do that), he did explain the kind of deal he's looking for.
George Pickens says he "would love" to remain with the Cowboys
In an interview with DallasCowboys.com staff writer Tommy Yarrish, Pickens, as mentioned, expressed his desire to return to Dallas.
"I would love to," Pickens said. "But when you can't control it, you kind of just hope for the best."
The former Georgia Bulldog said that while he hasn't had any contact with the Cowboys regarding a new deal, he did state that his agent probably has. And as for the type of deal he's looking for, he simply wants what's best, both for him and for the Dallas organization.
"Just the ultimate best deal when it helps everybody…" Pickens said. "If it's the best thing for both parties, then I'm willing to do anything. But like I said, I can't control it, so I just kind of chill."
That statement probably applies to every other team that will court him if he makes it to free agency, which apparently would include the Green Bay Packers if Micah Parsons had any say in the matter, but Cowboys fans obviously aren't interested in him signing anywhere else.
And the fact that Pickens doubled down on his "willing to do anything" stance when the franchise tag was brought up is a good sign, as no other team can obviously do that with him right now.
Pickens went on to say that while he knows his monetary value has gone up, he's more concerned with his value as a playmaker. So, he's simply going to continue to train until he knows exactly what team he's training for.