‘Definitely In That Range Or Above’: George Pickens Responds To Zay Flowers’ $140 Million Ravens Extension

OXNARD, Calif. — The Baltimore Ravens agreed to a four-year, $140 million extension with wide receiver Zay Flowers on Tuesday, and hours later the Dallas Cowboys receiver whose price it moves was on the radio in Dallas talking about it. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported the terms, which include $108 million guaranteed.

At $35 million per season, Flowers ties Minnesota Vikings receiver Justin Jefferson for fourth among wide receivers in average annual value. Jefferson signed for the same four years and the same $140 million total, with $110 million guaranteed. Three receivers sit above them: Jaxon Smith-Njigba of the Seattle Seahawks at $42.15 million, Ja’Marr Chase of the Cincinnati Bengals at $40.25 million, and Drake London of the Atlanta Falcons at $35.25 million.

George Pickens appeared on 105.3 The Fan on Tuesday.

“…Me personally, I think I’m definitely in that range or above…,” Pickens said.

Pickens caught 93 passes for 1,429 yards and 9 touchdowns in 2025, all career highs. The yardage figure ranked third in the NFL. In his first season with Dallas he made his first Pro Bowl and earned his first All-Pro selection, on the second team. His career averages sit at 16.0 yards per reception across 4,270 receiving yards.

Where George Pickens Stands On The Franchise Tag

Dallas used the non-exclusive franchise tag on Pickens in the spring, and he signed the tender in late April. It pays him $27.298 million, fully guaranteed, for 2026. Before the draft, the Cowboys said publicly that they did not plan to open long-term negotiations with Pickens and agent David Mulugheta. The July deadline for tagged players to reach extensions came and went. Pickens was the only franchise-tagged player in the league to finish the window without a deal.

His contract cannot be extended until after Dallas’ regular-season finale against the Washington Commanders in January 2027.

Pickens also said Tuesday that a hold-in was never under consideration and that he wanted to be locked in with his teammates. He said much the same in June, after the first day of mandatory minicamp.

“Uh, no, I’m definitely here now,” Pickens explained. “Like I said, the group of guys that’s with the Cowboys kind of prevents you [from holding out]. If you know guys, and are going to guys’ house[s], you’re talking. I talk to Dak [Prescott]. I’m still throwing with Dak. He’s definitely gonna make you not want to hold out.”

Three days before the Flowers deal became public, Pickens spoke with CBS Sports at the Cowboys’ camp in Oxnard, California.

“Definitely something that the other guys are getting cause that’s all I can really look forward to. I can’t really ask for nothing too crazy, but just what I see,” Pickens said. “So definitely somewhere where the other guys are getting.”

Flowers is the second receiver to reset his end of the market in recent weeks. New Orleans Saints receiver Chris Olave signed a four-year deal worth up to $132 million, an average of $33 million per season.

Zay Flowers In 2025

Baltimore took Flowers 22nd overall out of Boston College in the 2023 NFL Draft. He made his second consecutive Pro Bowl last season after catching 86 passes for 1,211 yards and 5 touchdowns in 17 games. The yardage total ranked seventh in the league. It also stands as the second-most in a single season by any Raven, behind the 1,361 yards Mark Andrews put up in 2021.

Flowers accounted for 36.9% of Baltimore’s receiving yards in 2025, the second-highest share by any player in the NFL. Smith-Njigba led at 44.1% while winning AP Offensive Player of the Year and a ring in Super Bowl LX.

What CeeDee Lamb And Dak Prescott’s Contracts Mean For 2027

CeeDee Lamb signed a four-year, $136 million extension in August 2024 that runs through 2028 and averages $34 million. Flowers passed him on the annual list Tuesday. Lamb was the 17th overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft and has made five straight Pro Bowls, tying Michael Irvin for the most by a Cowboys receiver. He was a first-team All-Pro in 2023.

Lamb played 14 games in 2025, a career low. He rolled his left ankle on a first-quarter handoff in the Week 3 loss at the Chicago Bears on Sept. 21 and missed the next three games with a high ankle sprain. A concussion at Detroit in December cost him more time. He finished with 75 receptions for 1,077 yards and 3 touchdowns.

The Cowboys restructured the contracts of Lamb, quarterback Dak Prescott, and left guard Tyler Smith in March, converting base salary into signing bonus and clearing roughly $66 million in 2026 cap space, per ESPN. Prescott’s 2026 base salary fell from $40 million to $1.8 million. His cap number for 2027 climbs to nearly $76 million. Lamb’s 2027 figure is $46.2 million and Smith’s is $19.5 million.

Flowers’ extension replaces the 2027 fifth-year option Baltimore picked up in April. He is under contract through 2031.