DALLAS — George Pickens cannot sign an extension with the Dallas Cowboys until after the regular-season finale in January 2027. Owner and general manager Jerry Jones pointed past this season anyway Tuesday morning on the Shan & RJ show on 105.3 The Fan, twice emphasizing the years to come.
Pickens signed his one-year, $27.3 million fully guaranteed franchise tender in late April. The July 15 deadline passed without a long-term deal, leaving him the only franchise-tagged player in the league without one.
Jerry Jones On George Pickens’ Camp
Pickens has been everything Dallas could have asked heading into the opener, in Jones’ telling.
“George has had a top, top camp and has just been everything we could have asked him to be for where we are as we go into this first game week,” Jones said. “And I’m excited about what he brings to the table for us, not only for the first part of the first game, but I’m excited what he’s got a chance to do for us this year and coming years, and I emphasize that, and coming years.”
Dallas placed the tag on Pickens on Feb. 27 and announced before the April draft that it would not negotiate a multiyear extension. Stephen Jones said at the time that the team had no intention of moving him. Pickens skipped the voluntary portion of the offseason program and reported for mandatory minicamp from June 16-18.
Dallas acquired Pickens from the Pittsburgh Steelers in May 2025 for a 2026 third-round pick and a 2027 fifth, receiving a 2026 sixth-rounder in return. He turned 25 in March and is in his fifth NFL season.
In 2025, his first season with the Cowboys, Pickens caught 93 passes for 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns. All three figures are career highs. He made his first Pro Bowl.
Jerry Jones On The Quinnen Williams Comparison
Dallas extended Quinnen Williams on a three-year, $105.9 million deal that runs through 2030. Asked what is left to see with Pickens, Jones turned the question toward the opener.
“First of all, let’s just talk about any player,” Jones explained. “It’s opening day for us this weekend. And what it really is all about is right now, this game, or if you will, this season. And he’s put himself in great position. We have him in great position to really help this team be really, hopefully, exceptional, and especially on that side of the ball. So we’ve all got just what we want, and he’s in an outstanding spot, because the better he plays, the better it is for him.”
DraftKings priced Pickens at 30/1 to lead the NFL in receiving yards this season. CeeDee Lamb, the other starting receiver, caught 75 passes for 1,077 yards in 2025.
The Cowboys can tag Pickens again in 2027 at roughly $32.8 million, a 120% raise on the current number. Dallas has used a second tag before, on Dak Prescott in 2020 and 2021 and on DeMarcus Lawrence in 2018 and 2019. The last player the Cowboys signed to an extension after a first tag was Dez Bryant in 2015.
