Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys had one of the most explosive offenses in the NFL, thanks to the dynamic trio of Dak Prescott, George Pickens and CeeDee Lamb. The Cowboys scored 471 points during the 2025 season, the seventh-highest total in the league. Dak Prescott threw for 4,552 yards and 30 touchdowns, whereas the wide receiving duo of Pickens and Lamb recorded 1,429 and 1,077 receiving yards, respectively.
Pickens’ performances meant Jones had to make a crucial decision after the 2025 season. While Prescott and Lamb’s contracts run through the 2028 season, Pickens’ contract expired after the 2025 season. This meant the Cowboys could either give him a long-term deal or place the franchise tag on him. Jones and the Cowboys went with the latter, placing Pickens on a $27.3 million non-exclusive franchise tag, which the wide receiver signed on April 29, 2026.
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This decision was finalized when the July 15 deadline for negotiating a long-term extension with Pickens passed. This decision might give Jones and the Cowboys some breathing room but they will have to make a decision on Pickens after the 2026 season. But, Pickens will not be the only decision Jones will have to make.
On Wednesday evening, it was reported that the Cowboys acquired Joey Porter Jr. from the Pittsburgh Steelers in exchange for a 2027 sixth-round pick and a 2028 second-round pick. Porter is currently on his rookie contract, which ends after the 2026 season. One thing that’s worth noting is that the Steelers decided to trade Porter after failing to reach a long-term extension with him.
So, Jones will have to make major decisions on both Porter and Pickens after the 2026 season. What makes this situation more interesting is that both Pickens and Porter are represented by Micah Parsons’ agent, David Mulugheta, and we all know how Jones’ negotiations with Mulugheta ended the last time.
But, these are the problems Jones and Brian Schottenheimer have to deal with in the future. The issue at hand right now is how to get the Cowboys back to winning ways after a difficult start to the season. The Cowboys will play the Houston Texans on Sunday.
