Ryan Clark predicts the Dallas Cowboys face a mess because they still need to payGeorge Pickens his money. The star wide receiver led the team in yards last year. Now the front office has a big problem.
The Cowboys put the franchise tag on Pickens to keep him for one year. This move usually makes players angry. Pickens wants a real contract that gives him safety for many years.
Cowboys EVP Signals Aggressive Trade Approach and George Pickens Tag Plans
Cowboys EVP Signals Aggressive Trade Approach and George Pickens Tag Plans
(Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images)
Ryan Clark talked about this on the show First Take recently. He said the drama is coming no matter what. He believes the team is moving backward even when they try to improve.
“He ain’t coming to work out. He ain’t coming to practice. He ain’t coming to training camp until he get that deal,” Clarkstated during his animated television segment on Tuesday.
.@Realrclark25 says Cowboys offseason drama is “inevitable” 😅
Will the Cowboys give George Pickens a long-term deal? 👀 pic.twitter.com/JrIaD6D6kF
— First Take (@FirstTake) March 31, 2026
The analyst knows how these players think. He says Pickens will not accept a cheap deal. If the team does not pay him well, the receiver will simply stay at home.
Jerry Jones must talk to an agent he does not like. This agent represents other big stars too. The history between the owner and this agent is very bad, marked by past conflicts.
The team traded for Pickens from the Steelers last year. They knew this contract fight would happen eventually. Now they must decide whether to keep their best deep threat on the field.
Pickens is working with Dak Prescott right now but he is not at official team events. This creates a lot of media coverage. Fans are worried about another long holdout.
The NFL receiver market is growing fast. Every new deal costs more than the last one. Dallas might wait too long and lose their chance to save money on the cap.
Jerry Jones faces a massive decision regarding George Pickens
The situation is like a movie where the ending is already known. Clark compared the drama to a famous movie villain. He thinks the team cannot run away from this specific loud conflict.
“It just seems to be inevitable. But this one, they kind of brought on themselves, right? Because when you traded for George Pickens last year, you knew this was coming,” Clark explained.
The Cowboys often let these things turn into a circus. They did it with other stars in the past. It seems they enjoy the attention even if it hurts the team on the grass.
If George Pickens stays away from camp, the offense will suffer. He is the main target for the quarterback. Without him, the team struggles to score points against tough divisional rivals.
The fans want a deal soon. They are tired of the same stories every spring. Everyone is waiting to see if Jerry Jones will finally open his checkbook for the young star.