DALLAS — George Pickens was priced at 30/1 by DraftKings to finish 2026 as the NFL’s receiving-yardage leader, according to a board NorthJersey.com published Thursday. That put the Dallas Cowboys receiver outside the 10 shortest prices. Pickens finished third in the league in receiving yards last season.
There were 10 receivers ahead of him on the board. Puka Nacua of the Los Angeles Rams was +550, the shortest price. Ja’Marr Chase of the Cincinnati Bengals was next at 6/1. Jaxon Smith-Njigba of the Seattle Seahawks was +650, Amon-Ra St. Brown of the Detroit Lions was +950, and Cowboys teammate CeeDee Lamb was 11/1. Pickens shared his 30/1 number with DeVonta Smith and Rashee Rice. The odds were current as of Aug. 12.
What George Pickens Produced In 2025
Pickens caught 93 passes for 1,429 yards and 9 touchdowns in 17 games last season, all three career highs. He was named a second-team All-Pro and made his first Pro Bowl. In the NFC’s 66-52 win over the AFC on Feb. 3 in San Francisco, Pickens caught 3 passes for 39 yards and 1 touchdown and was named the game’s offensive MVP. He also made ESPN’s Top 100 this summer.
Dallas traded for Pickens on May 7, 2025, after three seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Cowboys sent Pittsburgh a 2026 third-round pick and a 2027 fifth-rounder. Pickens and a 2027 sixth-round pick came back to Dallas. Pittsburgh had selected him 52nd overall in the 2022 draft. In 48 games there, Pickens caught 174 passes for 2,841 yards and 12 touchdowns. His biggest yardage total with the Steelers was 1,140 in 2023.
Pickens said at training camp in Oxnard, California, in July that football had already been on his mind for most of the previous year. He left the contract side to his agents.
“I kind of leave that to the people that can do that,” Pickens said. “For me, I just make catches, make plays, be a playmaker.”
The Franchise Tag And 2027 Free Agency
The Cowboys tagged Pickens in February with the non-exclusive franchise designation. He signed the $27.3 million tender on April 29, making the salary fully guaranteed. Dallas had already said before the draft that it would not work on a long-term deal with him this offseason. July 15 came and went without one.
That $27.3 million figure is 15th among NFL receivers in average annual value. Unless something changes, Pickens can hit free agency in 2027.
Micah Parsons said on his podcast that Pickens could get to 1,800 receiving yards and win the receiving triple crown this season. Parsons spent four years with Dallas before being traded to the Green Bay Packers.
Through 65 career games, Pickens has 267 receptions and 4,270 receiving yards. He turned 25 in March. Pickens has said Lamb brought more creativity and more freedom out of him in Dallas.
The Cowboys went 7-9-1 last season even with the NFL’s second-ranked passing offense by yardage. Dak Prescott is entering his 11th season. Dallas also has every offensive starter from last year back.
The opener is Sept. 13 at the New York Giants. Kickoff is 7:20 p.m. CT on NBC.
