The Cowboys have made it known of their love for Pickens, but will that be enough for the star receiver to remain with the team long-term?
Over the coming months, we're going to see exactly how much the Dallas Cowboys have changed.
With George Pickens the big-ticket item for Dallas this offseason, the franchise is set to tag him, which will see him make roughly $28 million in APY for 2026.
The deadline for the Cowboys and Pickens to come to a long-term deal is July 15.
Once that day has passed, if there isn't a long-term deal signed, George plays on the franchise tag.
So the Cowboys do have a couple of months to work out the details of Pickens' new deal, if they want to keep him long-term, that is.
It would be hard to envision a scenario in which Pickens accepts anything less than $30 million APY. Our own Mike Fisher thinks a four-year, $120 million contract sounds about right, and we agree.
One question is, does George want to be paid higher than CeeDee Lamb? If he does, then there's a big deal to work through.
But how come there hasn't been much movement on a deal for Pickens with Javonte Williams, the first Cowboy this offseason to have his future sorted?
"It's just take time,” Cowboys COO Stephen Jones said. “I mean, we want Pickens here. Think the world of him. Want him here, love him, and I think he wants to be here. So, all that's a plus.”
And speaking of Javonte, here's another big deal - a mistake being committed by observers: It's being written that Williams' deal somehow negatively impacts Pickens' situation.
That is 100-percent false. Dalllas can (will) create room for Pickens' $28 mil tag ... and if a long-term deal is achieved by July 15, Pickens' cap impact figures to shrink to one-third of that.
Indeed, Javonte's three-year, $24 mil deal is reportedly structured in a way that sees his 2026 cap hit at $3.95 million.
That blocks nothing.
In short, there is no tie between the two deals.
Anyway ..
So Stephen is saying all the right things, and exactly what George and Cowboys Nation want to hear.
But the thing is, we've been here before.
With the Dak Prescott extension, with CeeDee Lamb's extension, and we know all about the Micah Parsons trainwreck from last offseason.
So while Dallas says all the right things, many fans are skeptical that this offseason can be quiet and stress-free.
Pickens will be the cloud hanging over the franchise until either he is signed long-term or is traded away.
Until one of those two things happens, every time a Cowboys player or coach fronts the media, have a guess what the first question will be?
Dallas has a chance to buck the trend here, if it wants to.
It did it with Javonte. A quiet, no-fuss deal.
How good would it be if Pickens followed suit?