George Pickens was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers, but it was with the Dallas Cowboys that he showcased his true potential, and he did so in his very first season there. Pickens earned his first Pro Bowl selection and a second-team All-Pro nod, and the Cowboys have now rewarded him financially as well.
Selected in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft by Pittsburgh, Pickens spent his first three seasons with the Steelers. However, ahead of the 2025 season, Dallas acquired him and a 2027 sixth-round pick in exchange for a 2026 third-round selection and a 2027 fifth-rounder.
The move proved to be an instant success for Jerry Jones and company. With Pickens set to hit free agency after his rookie deal expired, the Cowboys opted to use the franchise tag instead of finalizing a long-term extension. The tag guarantees him $27.298 million for the 2026 season.
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In a league where careers can shift dramatically in a single year, Pickens, like most players, would likely have preferred long-term security. But if Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones is to be believed, the star wideout was thrilled about remaining in Dallas.
“He was fired up that he wasn’t going to be going anywhere,” Jones told NFL Network's Rich Eisen, per Jon Machota of The Athletic. “He was very fired up about his future with us. We felt like he wanted to be in Dallas. He certainly said that to Jerry. Jerry just said he was on cloud nine that he was gonna be a Cowboy again.”
While the move was widely expected, it also underscores that the two sides have yet to reach a long-term agreement. Pickens can still negotiate with other teams, but if Dallas declines to match an offer sheet, the signing team would have to send two first-round picks to the Cowboys as compensation.
Pickens has until mid-summer to work out an extension; otherwise, he will play the 2026 season on the fully guaranteed one-year tender. But given the season he just had, Dallas will be eager to lock him up long-term.
Appearing in all 17 games, Pickens caught 93 passes for a career-high 1,429 yards, his first 1,400-yard campaign, along with nine touchdowns, also a career best.
With strong chemistry alongside CeeDee Lamb and quarterback Dak Prescott, the 24-year-old may also be inclined to stay in Dallas. But unexpected twists are common in the NFL, especially with the Cowboys, so it remains to be seen how the situation ultimately unfolds.