Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott shared a strong message for teammate George Pickens on March 5, 2026. This happened at the annual Children’s Cancer Fund Gala in Dallas. Prescott told the star wide receiver to stay focused on the game and ignore the stress of contract talks.
The Cowboys recently placed the franchise tag on Pickens. This move locks him into a 1-year contract for the 2026 season. Thedeal is worth $27.3 million and is fully guaranteed. Pickens joined the team after a trade from the Pittsburgh Steelers and had a massive 2025 season. He caught 93 passes for 1,429 yards and scored 9 touchdowns.
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott
Feb 1, 2026; San Francisco, CA, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) during NFC practice at the Flag Fieldhouse Moscone Center South Building. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Prescott knows the pressure of the franchise tag. The Cowboys tagged him twice before he signed a record-breaking deal. He wants Pickens to keep his passion for the sport high. Prescotttold him, “Don’t change your love for football. Don’t get in the business mind of this.”
Dak Prescott’s message to George Pickens:
“Don’t change your love for football. Don’t get in the business mind of this. You played last year for not even that much, and now you’re going to get $30M. At the end of the day bet on yourself.”
(@jonmachota)
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— SleeperNFL (@SleeperNFL) March 4, 2026
Prescott reminded Pickens that his financial situation had changed quickly. Pickens played the 2025 season on a 1-year deal for a much lower salary. Now he is set to earn nearly $30 million. Prescott advised him, “At the end of the day bet on yourself.”
The quarterback also warned Pickens not to let the negotiations ruin his relationship with the team. He mentioned that it is important not to let the process get personal. Prescott believes that Pickens has the talent to earn a much larger contract in the future.
By following this advice, Pickens can focus on his performance on the field while his agents handle the money. This approach helps a player stay happy and productive during a difficult business period.
Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb help Cowboys clear cap space
The Dallas Cowboys are making big moves to save money before free agency starts. The team restructured the contracts of Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb, and Tyler Smith. These changes helped the team get under the $301.2 million salary cap.
Dak Prescott moved most of his $40 million salary into a bonus. His base pay for this year is now only $1.8 million. This move alone saved the team about 31 million dollars in cap space.
The Cowboys began the week $55 million over the limit. Now they have about 11 million dollars to spend on new players. Jerry Jones said the team wants to be aggressive in free agency this year.