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The Dallas Cowboys are firmly back in the mix as an NFC playoff contender after pulling off a thrilling comeback victory over the Philadelphia Eagles last week and overcoming a 21-0 deficit. It was the second consecutive win for the Cowboys after demolishing the Las Vegas Raiders the prior week, and at 5-5-1, Dallas is still alive heading into a tough matchup with the Kansas City Chiefs on Thanksgiving, who are in a similar boat in the AFC.
A big reason why the Cowboys are still alive and were able to win the last two games has been the outstanding performance of wide receiver George Pickens. Dallas’ new star receiver caught nine passes in each of the last two games for 144 and 146 yards, respectively, with a touchdown in each game as well.
ESPN’s Louis Riddick touched on the topic of Pickens’ upcoming free agency on Wednesday’s episode of Get Up. Riddick noted how important it is for Dallas to hang on to its new star and explored one way for the Cowboys to make that happen.
“Probably franchise tag him. You can’t just let [George Pickens] go. You have to keep him under contract. He is a guy you have to figure out a way. It’s a good problem to have. They took a chance, he has paid off,” Riddick said.
.@LRiddickESPN explains why he believes the Cowboys should retain George Pickens with a franchise tag ✍️ pic.twitter.com/cF6CoterFL
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) November 26, 2025
The Pickens acquisition couldn’t be working out better for both parties and the receiver is living up to all the hype he had during his days with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He appears to have matured as well and has checked every box since coming to the Cowboys.
Pickens has already surpassed his career highs with 67 catches and eight touchdowns this season, and he is becoming an indispensable part of this offense. It would be wise to keep him long-term, but the path to making that happen could get complicated.
A franchise tag would be wise for the Cowboys, but it’s possible Pickens wouldn’t want to play under a tag, as some players often aim to hold out for a long-term deal. Whatever winds up happening, Dallas has to keep this guy around.
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