Thinking that the Dallas Cowboys will extend George Pickens before the 2026 NFL season is like betting against the sun. The Joneses have been quite clear with where they stand, and the star wideout seems okay, albeit not thrilled, with playing for north of $27 million on a one-year tag.
But the big picture still matters quite a bit here if Dallas plans to have Pickens for the long haul, and threading the needle between keeping him happy and not overpaying is as difficult as ever. With the wide receiver market skyrocketing, every contract for another player is a thorn in the Cowboys' side.
Earlier this week, Drake London inked a four-year extension with the Atlanta Falcons for $141 million. Of course, this affects America's Team because the markets are relative, and surely, Pickens and his agent feel that he should be paid in the same stratosphere as the NFL's other great receivers.
Well, the Green Bay Packers aren't making things any easier by extending Christian Watson to a bigger deal than he's worth, either.
Packers' Christian Watson deal throws wrench into Dallas Cowboys' George Pickens negotiations
Watson, in somewhat shocking fashion, reached an agreement on a long-term deal with the Packers on Thursday. The fifth-year veteran wideout is cashing in for $110.5 million across four years, despite having never eclipsed 650 receiving yards or seven receiving touchdowns in a single season.
Pickens, who was taken 18 picks later in the 2022 NFL Draft, has never turned in fewer than 800 yards and hauled in nine touchdown grabs for the Cowboys a season ago. If Watson is making $27.6 million per year, Dallas fans can only imagine what Pickens' camp wants now.
It's not as if these two players are all that comparable in terms of production or otherwise, so Jerry Jones and Co. didn't mess up by letting Watson get paid first, as was the case with London. But now the floor for Pickens' deal is a bit higher, considering Watson doesn't hold a candle to him as a player.
With his new deal, Watson is now in the company of players like Alec Pierce, Jaylen Waddle, DJ Moore, Jameson Williams, DeVonta Smith and Tee Higgins. That's wide receiver two money. And while Pickens would always be Robin to CeeDee Lamb's Batman, that's certainly not how he views himself.
In a way, Dallas really does have two No. 1s. But that becomes tricky to face when discussing big-money deals. Cowboys like DeMarvion Overshown need long-term contracts as well, and the salary cap is the salary cap. There's only so much money to go around.
What most don't seem to understand, however, is that Pickens is somewhat of a different case. He hasn't been with the Cowboys for his entire career, as London or Watson have. Pickens has played one year in Dallas and still has some non-football questions to answer before getting paid.
Jones, of course, will be criticized for whatever route he takes. But the business is the business, and Watson making $27.6 million per year certainly changes the complexion for Pickens' eventual deal, whether that is with the Cowboys or another team next offseason.
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