George Pickens proved to be well worth the trade with the Pittsburgh Steelers for a Dallas Cowboys 2026 third-round pick and a 2027 fifth-round pick.
(The Cowboys also received a 2027 sixth-round pick in the trade for Pickens.)
In 17 games, Pickens recorded 93 receptions for 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns. He didn't take away from star receiver CeeDee Lamb, who had 1,077 yards receiving and three touchdowns on 75 receptions during the 14 games he played for Dallas in 2025.
The Cowboys have a decision to make on Pickens this offseason. The 2022 second-round pick is set to enter free agency. Dallas could sign Pickens to a long-term deal.
If a deal isn't reached, the Cowboys could apply the franchise tag.
During an appearance on "The Dan Patrick Show" on Friday, Lamb argued the front office needed to make it a priority to bring back Pickens.
"Gotta put the pieces together, right?" Pickens said. "As we know, our offense was fire. Our defense wasn't as good, but once we combine those two things. We got a couple pieces that we need to bring back offensively.
"And I'm pretty sure everybody here knows exactly what I'm talking about. But, yeah, get our defense together."
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Patrick asked Lamb if Pickens would play for Dallas in 2026.
"He has no choice," Lamb said.
Patrick asked Lamb if he would be willing to defer any of his money or allow the front office to restructure his contract to keep Pickens. Lamb said he'd be willing to make the sacrifice for Pickens.
"If it's necessary, honestly," Lamb said. "I'm pretty good, but I know he's going to get every penny that he deserves here in Dallas."
On Thursday, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said he wants to keep Pickens in Dallas for a long time.
"I'm talking to George all the time by virtue of my excitement for him," Jones said, via the Cowboys. "He's better than, as far as what he contributed to our team, showing the potential that he could contribute.
"I'm looking forward to getting things worked out so George can be a Cowboy a long time."
Still, Jones knows he might have to use the franchise tag to keep Pickens on the roster in 2026. The franchise tag can cause friction between players and front offices, because it limits the player's long-term financial security.
Given Pickens' dicey history with the Steelers, Jones doesn't think the wide receiver would have more of an issue with the franchise tag than any other player.
“Obviously, if you franchise somebody, they’re not getting exactly where they want to be, Jones said, via the Dallas Morning News. "That’s the way that works. Would I be more concerned with him that I would be anybody? The answer is not at all...
“There’s nothing fragile. I’ve heard things that would imply: make me think of the word fragile. There’s nothing fragile about him.”
If he's not fragile, Jones should anticipate a hard bargain with Pickens at the negotiating table this spring.