Getty
George Pickens #3 of the Dallas Cowboys
The NFL offseason has already been a busy one for the Dallas Cowboys, with a new defensive coordinator on hand, Christian Parker, as well as a running back already signed to a major free-agent deal–Javonte Williams has been locked up to a three-year, $24 million contract that will keep him in place as the team’s RB1 for the foreseeable future.
The Cowboys still are grappling with two other pieces of news, first on their star wide receiver, George Pickens, who is heading into free agency and on whom the team has promised to place the franchise tag. That will mean Pickens will be on a one-year, $29 million contract for next season, unless the team and player can come together on a long-term contract this offseason.
Both sides will have incentive to do so. After logging 1,429 yards, third in the NFL, Pickens wants to be paid like one of the best receivers in the game and wants the security of a long-term deal. By giving Pickens a long-term deal, the Cowboys can use signing bonuses and other cap tricks to reduce his short-term salary and allow the team to make other moves to bolster the roster.
The Cowboys and Pickens, then, have means and motive–now they just need to work out the numbers and put pen to paper.
Cowboys Will Move George Pickens Around
Once that happens, Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer revealed, there are already plans in place for Dallas to expand the use and production they’ve gotten from Pickens. With CeeDee Lamb still the team’s WR1, Schottenheimer said he plans to put Pickens into motion more, forcing teams to make on-the-fly decisions on how to guard a player with Pickens’ impressive size and slithery elusiveness.
“GP is a guy who wants to be moved around,’ Schottenheimer said. “He likes it.”
Before any of that can happen, though, there will need to be a new contract. Schottenheimer said he has not spoken with Pickens, but that he will do so before the team places the franchise tag n him (the deadline for that is March 3). Schottenheimer said he is also optimistic on a long-term deal.
“This is going to play out the way it’s supposed to play out,” Schottenheimer said on Thursday. “GP loves football, and my relationship with GP doesn’t change, just like it didn’t change with CeeDee and Dak and guys who were going through certain things. It’s all part of the process, it’s the business side of it. I was talking to CeeDee last night. So, it doesn’t change.”
‘This Guy Is a Competitor’
Indeed, Schottenheimer was the offensive coordinator for the Cowboys in the 2024 offseason when both quarterback Dak Prescott and Lamb were in need of new contracts. Prescott had the last year of his deal in hand, so he participated in training camp as normal, and signed on the day the season opened. Lamb was a hold out and got his new contract in late August that year.
Schottenheimer said he understands that the financial details of contracts can get in the way, but added that once the red tape is cleared away, he knows Pickens just wants to play.
Asked what he thought about a new deal happening for Pickens, Schottenheimer said, “I hope. I think everything I have seen around George since the time he got here and the time he got in, and I say this respectfully—I kicked his (expletive) in shooting free throws in my office. He might not remember it that way, but I knew this guy is a competitor and loves football.
“So, I hope so.”
Sean Deveney is a veteran sports reporter covering the NBA, NFL and MLB for Heavy.com. He has written for Heavy since 2019 and has more than two decades of experience covering the NBA, including 17 years as the lead NBA reporter for the Sporting News. Deveney is the author of 7 nonfiction books, including “Fun City,” “Before Wrigley became Wrigley,” and “Facing Michael Jordan.” More about Sean Deveney
More Heavy on Cowboys
Loading more stories