George Pickens #3 of the Dallas Cowboys
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George Pickens #3 of the Dallas Cowboys
You do not have to get too deep into the weeds on the Dallas Cowboys’ situation with star wide receiver George Pickens–who was given a franchise tag last week as NFL free agency nears–to understand that there could be a problem with one of the prominent members of the Pickens camp. That would be agent David Mulugheta of Athletes First, one of the most powerful agents in the NFL.
Mulugheta represents Pickens. He also represents Micah Parsons, and if you think back to the 2025 offseason, it’s obvious why that is a potential problem. The major breakdown between the Cowboys and Parsons last year was predicated on the fact that, from team owner Jerry Jones’ point of view, he and Parsons had agreed to terms before Mulugheta interceded and insisted that he should negotiate the terms of Parsons’ deal.
In August, just before Jones traded Parsons to the Packers, Jones called out Mulugheta in what seemed to be personal terms. “The issue very frankly is we’ve had the negotiation in my mind, and the agent’s trying to get his nose in it right now and try to come in there and improve off the market we had already set,” Jones said.
Jerry Jones, David Mulugheta Had a Rough 2025 Together
Parsons sided with Mulugheta, Jones was angry on behalf of the Cowboys, Mulugheta shot back during an ESPN appearance–it was not the smoothest divorce. And now six months later, Pickens is a free agent and it’s Mulugheta again as the guy Jones needs to go through.
If that sounds like a problem when it comes to getting Pickens signed and avoiding more offseason drama, then take some comfort–Jones says he is holding no grudges, and he understands that teams’ relationships with agents are, by nature, confrontational.
Jones told reporters: “Let me be real clear—I have no issues at all with working with (George Pickens’) agent. And I have no issue with the agent, not at all. When he’s representing a player or someone that we have, a coach, someone we’re with, those issues are just obvious. Because the better job I can do for the club, the better off we are. The better job he can do for the player, financially, the better he gets. He gets more money.”
Jerry Jones, Dallas Cowboys
GettyDallas Cowboys team owner Jerry Jones
Cowboys Paying George Pickens a Franchise Tag Deal
That’s where things stand, of course, between Pickens and the Cowboys. The tag will cost the team $28 million for a one-year deal, which is a sizable raise for Pickens and a deal he could be required to play under if the Cowboys don’t budge.
But Pickens wants a long-term contract after having racked up 1,429 yards receiving and 93 catches–the third-most yards in the NFL last year and the fourth-most in the history of the Cowboys.
That could get very expensive, very fast. Spotrac projects his market value as a four-year deal in which Pickens gets $122 million and because the Cowboys placed the non-exclusive tag on Pickens, he can negotiate that kind of deal with a rival team. The problem is, that team would have to give the Cowboys two first-round picks, and there aren’t any teams looking to pay Pickens $30 million per year, plus give up two first-rounders for him.
And so the Cowboys will need to wait–and deal with Mulugheta to get a contract done.