{"id":724054,"date":"2026-02-02T16:07:16","date_gmt":"2026-02-02T16:07:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/724054\/"},"modified":"2026-02-02T16:07:16","modified_gmt":"2026-02-02T16:07:16","slug":"dallas-cowboys-george-pickens-contract-talks-raise-slight-concern","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/724054\/","title":{"rendered":"Dallas Cowboys, George Pickens Contract Talks Raise Slight Concern"},"content":{"rendered":"<p id=\"inline-text-0\" class=\"mt-[18px] md:mt-0 mb-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"6e\">The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.si.com\/nfl\/cowboys\/onsi\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Dallas Cowboys<\/a>&#8216; offseason is underway, with some major moves on the defensive side of the ball as the team rebuilds its staff. However, there are still some major issues on the offense that need some attention. <\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-1\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"6h\">Star wide receiver <a href=\"https:\/\/www.si.com\/nfl\/cowboys\/onsi\/news\/dallas-cowboys-dc-interviews-unintended-impact-george-pickens-future\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">George Pickens<\/a> is coming off a breakout year and is set to hit the open market in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.si.com\/nfl\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">NFL <\/a>free agency, unless the team decides to utilize the franchise tag or can agree to a long-term deal. <\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-2\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"6k\">Offseason contract drama is no stranger to Cowboys Nation, but there was some hope that the team wouldn&#8217;t drag its feet with their latest star. <\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-3\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"6n\">MORE: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.si.com\/nfl\/cowboys\/onsi\/draft\/new-dallas-cowboys-2026-nfl-mock-draft-trade-up-hammering-defense\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">New Cowboys 2026 NFL Mock Draft Features Trade Up, Hammering Defense<\/a><\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-4\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"6q\">Unfortunately, according to Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News, the Cowboys and Pickens <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dallasnews.com\/sports\/cowboys\/2026\/02\/02\/dallas-cowboys-george-pickens-free-agent-contract-talks\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">have not yet had any contract talks<\/a>. <\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/01kgfer0b5em1bdrjrd3.jpg\" alt=\"Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens reacts after catching a touchdown against the New York Jets\" title=\"Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens reacts after catching a touchdown against the New York Jets\" width=\"3472\" height=\"3472\" class=\"undefined w-full w-full blur-[5px]\" q:id=\"70\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens reacts after catching a touchdown against the New York Jets | Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-6\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"74\">&#8220;Not having talks with Pickens at this point isn\u2019t concerning, but after what transpired last offseason, when club officials failed to reach a deal with star pass rusher Micah Parsons, eventually leading to a trade, the thought of getting a deal done sooner rather than later seems prudent,&#8221; Watkins wrote. <\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-7\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"77\">While the news could be a little alarming, the good news is the front office and players like Dak Prescott have been outspoken about their desire to re-sign Pickens. <\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-8\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"7a\">MORE: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.si.com\/nfl\/cowboys\/onsi\/news\/dallas-cowboys-top-offseason-trade-targets-include-3x-all-pro-super-bowl-champ\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Cowboys&#8217; Top Offseason Trade Targets Include 3x All-Pro Super Bowl Champ<\/a><\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-9\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"7d\">Last season, Pickens hauled in 93 catches for 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns &#8212; which were all career highs. As a result, Pickens was named to his first Pro Bowl. <\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-10\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"7g\">Hopefully the two sides will be able to start negotiations as soon as possible so the dread of another contract saga does not fully sink in. <\/p>\n<p>George Pickens&#8217; projected contract, salary<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/01kgfex31xjjff0e005x.jpg\" alt=\"Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens celebrates after a successful two-point conversion against the Kansas City Chiefs\" title=\"Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens celebrates after a successful two-point conversion against the Kansas City Chiefs\" width=\"4003\" height=\"4003\" class=\"undefined w-full w-full blur-[5px]\" q:id=\"7t\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens celebrates after a successful two-point conversion against the Kansas City Chiefs  | Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-13\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"7x\">There have been reports that the Cowboys are willing to use the franchise tag if they are unable to agree to a deal before the start of free agency. The franchise tag would allow the Cowboys to continue negotiating throughout the offseason.<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-14\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"80\">According to\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/overthecap.com\/franchise-transition-and-rfa-tenders\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Over the Cap<\/a>, the projected franchise tag figure for a wide receiver in 2026 is $28.046 million. For Pickens&#8217; new deal, meanwhile, Spotrac projects Pickens could land a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.spotrac.com\/nfl\/player\/market-value\/_\/id\/76928\/george-pickens\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">five-year, $153.7 million contract<\/a>\u00a0on the open market, which averages $30.8 million per year. That would make Pickens the sixth-highest-paid receiver in the league, per<a href=\"https:\/\/overthecap.com\/position\/wide-receiver\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">\u00a0Over the Cap<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.si.com\/nfl\/cowboys\/newsletter\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Sign up for the Cowboys Daily Digest newsletter <\/a>for more free coverage from<a href=\"https:\/\/www.si.com\/nfl\/cowboys\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"> Dallas Cowboys on SI<\/a> \u2014<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-16\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"86\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.si.com\/nfl\/cowboys\/onsi\/news\/6-dallas-cowboys-dream-targets-2026-nfl-free-agency\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">6 Dallas Cowboys Dream Targets in 2026 NFL Free Agency<\/a><\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-17\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"89\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.si.com\/nfl\/cowboys\/onsi\/draft\/dallas-cowboys-2026-nfl-mock-draft-lands-unique-hybrid-lb-cb-serious-gas\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Cowboys 2026 Mock Draft Lands &#8216;Unique&#8217; Hybrid LB, CB With &#8216;Serious Gas&#8217;<\/a><\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-18\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"8c\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.si.com\/nfl\/cowboys\/onsi\/draft\/3-senior-bowl-edge-rushers-putting-themselves-dallas-cowboys-radar\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">3 Senior Bowl EDGE Rushers Putting Themselves on Cowboys\u2019 Radar<\/a><\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-19\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"8f\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.si.com\/nfl\/cowboys\/onsi\/news\/dallas-cowboys-most-likely-cap-casualties-include-53-game-starter-all-pro-dt\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Cowboys &#8216;Most Likely&#8217; Cap Casualties Include 53-Game Starter, All-Pro DT<\/a><\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-20\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"8i\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.si.com\/nfl\/cowboys\/onsi\/news\/george-pickens-dallas-cowboys-future-appears-written-on-wall\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">George Pickens&#8217; Dallas Cowboys Future Appears to be Written on the Wall<\/a><\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-21\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"8l\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.si.com\/nfl\/cowboys\/onsi\/news\/brenley-herrera-dallas-cowboys-cheerleader-2025-rookie-photos-bio\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Meet Brenley Herrera: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader 2025 Rookie<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The Dallas Cowboys&#8216; offseason is underway, with some major moves on the defensive side of the ball as&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":724055,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2066],"tags":[230,229,257,2461,7,6],"class_list":{"0":"post-724054","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-dallas-cowboys","8":"tag-cowboys","9":"tag-dallas","10":"tag-dallas-cowboys","11":"tag-dallascowboys","12":"tag-football","13":"tag-nfl"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@nfl\/116001902646018078","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/724054","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=724054"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/724054\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/724055"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=724054"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=724054"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=724054"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}