George Pickens could be playing for one of the largest contracts awarded to an NFL wide receiver.
Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox ranked the Dallas Cowboys star as the top potential free agent of 2027 and projected Pickens to receive a four-year, $142 million contract. That deal would average $35.5 million per season and place him among the NFL’s highest-paid receivers.
Pickens is playing the 2026 season under a one-year franchise tag worth approximately $27.3 million. After his breakout debut season in Dallas, another dominant campaign could make it even more expensive for the Cowboys to retain him.
Pickens must prove 2025 was not an exception
Dallas acquired Pickens from the Pittsburgh Steelers before the 2025 season, hoping he could provide a reliable second option alongside CeeDee Lamb. He quickly exceeded those expectations.
Pickens recorded career highs with 93 receptions, 1,429 receiving yards and nine touchdowns. He earned Pro Bowl and second-team All-Pro honors while helping Dallas develop one of the league’s most dangerous receiving tandems.
Pickens and Lamb combined for 2,506 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns last season. Their ability to stretch the field and create difficult matchups give quarterback Dak Prescott two elite targets.
However, Knox believes that Pickens must demonstrate that he can consistently produce at that level before receiving a top-of-the-market contracts. His production fluctuated during three seasons in Pittsburgh, and questions about his maturity followed him to Dallas.
Pickens avoided significant controversy during his first season with the Cowboys and continued building a close relationship with Lamb. Another productive year without off-field concerns could strengthen his value considerably.
Cowboys face an expensive decision
The Cowboys used the franchise tag to prevent Pickens from reaching free agency this offseason. He signed the tender in April, guaranteeing his $27.3 million salary and avoiding the possibility of a prolonged holdout.
Dallas could sue the franchise tag again in 2027, but the required salary increase would make that an expensive short-term solution. The team may instead need to decide whether to offer Pickens a massive extension or allow him to test the open market.
A four-year, $142 million contract would slightly exceed the four-year, $141.1 million extension signed by Atlanta Falcons receiver Drake London. It would also create a significant financial commitment at reciever because Lamb is already playing on a four-year, $136 million deal.
Still, allowing Pickens to leave would remove one of the Cowboys’ most explosive offensive weapons during the prime of his career.
Another big season could determine Pickens’ future
Pickens is only 25 years old and could enter free agency with his best football still ahead of him. His combination of size, contested-catch ability and vertical speed could make him attractive to receiver-needy teams across the league.
The Cowboys recently created more than $19 million in cap space by restructuring the contracts of Kenny Clark, DaRon Bland and Jake Ferguson. That flexibility could eventually help Dallas pursue a Pickens extension, although much of the cost would affect future salary caps.
For now, Pickens controls his market. If he produces another All-Pro caliber season and continues showing maturity, the projected $142 million payday could become realistic expectation rather than an ambitious estimate.
