While the Pittsburgh Steelers must be lamenting trading away George Pickens, the Dallas Cowboys are celebrating that the AFC North team did business with them in the offseason. Pickens has become one of the best offseason moves in the league after making a notable impact on the Cowboys’ offense.
The four-year veteran eclipsed his career highs in receptions (67) and touchdown receptions (eight) with six games left to play. He’s on track to post new career highs in targets and yards, too.
Advertisement
Pickens has enamored Cowboys fans, and they are calling for the team to retain the wideout beyond this season. The Georgia product is in the final year of the four-year,$6.7 million rookie deal he signed with Pittsburgh in 2022.
It should be a no-brainer for the Cowboys to re-sign Pickens, but after committing $76.5 million to Dak Prescott and $38.6 million to CeeDee Lamb in 2026, they won’t be in the best financial position to offer Pickens a multi-year deal. During Wednesday’s edition of ESPN’s “Get Up,” former Mike Greenberg questioned the Cowboys’ options.
“You’re already paying CeeDee Lamb an enormous amount of money, and he’s worth every penny; he’s a great player. You can’t pay two guys, right?” Greenberg said. “I mean, you got the quarterback… What are they gonna do with George Pickens?”
Advertisement
Former NFL player turned analyst Louis Riddick said the Cowboys should retain Pickens at any cost.
“Probably franchise tag him. You can’t just let him go,” Riddick said. “He is a guy you have the time to figure out a way–Cincinnati found a way to do it, right? It’s a good problem to have. They took a chance, he’s paid off.”
Advertisement
Riddick credited Pickens for helping Prescott elevate his team’s level of performance, comparing the quarterback to Matthew Stafford, one of the best players of the season. Pickens ranks eighth in receptions (67), second in yards (1,054) and third in touchdowns (eight).
He has formed a terrific tandem with Lamb, and the Cowboys’ front office knows they must keep him on the roster. The Bengals franchised-tagged Tee Higgins before offering him a multi-year extension, and it seems like the Cowboys could be heading down that path.
—Enjoy free coverage of the top news & trending stories on The Big Lead—
NFL:12 teams with the best chance to win Super Bowl after Week 12
CFB:Maxwell Award finalists announced for 2025 college football season
NBA:NBA power rankings: Ranking all 30 teams to wrap up November
MLB:Grading the MLB 2025 offseason trades
SPORTS MEDIA:Dwyane Wade weighs in on NBA GOAT debate between Michael Jordan and LeBron James