Pickens wants a long-term deal, but Dallas, right now, doesn't want to give him one, so how he approaches the next couple of months is crucial to the outside perception of No. 3.
All eyes will be on Dallas Cowboys receiver George Pickens this offseason as the NFL world waits to see exactly what his plan of attack is.
He's signed the franchise tag, locking him into 2026 with Brian Schottenheimer's offense at $27 million, but that hasn't stopped some from thinking a protest of sorts could be forthcoming.
OTAs have begun, but don't expect Pickens to be at The Star. After all, it's voluntary, but mandatory minicamp on June 16 is the date everyone has circled.
What Pickens does will tell us a lot about where he is mentally, given that his future is only secure for one year.
Will he have a bruised little toe and can't practice? Or will he be suited up and on the field getting ready to attack Year 2 with Dak Prescott?
I hope it's the latter.
ESPN has two thoughts on the matter.
Jeremy Fowler thinks what Pickens does will be something to monitor. (Obviously.)
"Pickens signed his $27.3 million franchise tag, which the Cowboys are happy about," Fowler wrote. "But he wants a long-term deal that Dallas won't give right now. Whether Pickens develops a reason to sit out during the offseason or regular season could be something to watch."
Now, there is something in what Fowler says that is interesting.
"Whether Pickens develops a reason to sit out."
If he does, I get the sense that regardless of whether it is true or not, the outside perception will be that Pickens is "holding in'' at offseason workouts.
Which leads me to another ESPN "hot take,'' this one more subtle, offered often by Adam Schefter. ... who habitually mentions the possibility that Dallas will at some point this summer trade Pickens.
But again, Schefter - who has been wrong at almost every turn in his Pickens-related reporting this offseason - never notes a "source'' here ... he just sort of floats it out there.
Our view?
Remember, Pickens did a mountain of work to restore his reputation in 2025, and you can make the case that he did repair a lot.
Yes, there were a few hiccups along the way, but for the most part, Pickens was exactly what Dallas wanted him to be.
So, the perception is changing on Pickens, but if he chooses to hold out and eat the fines, I think all of the faith he has garnered over the past 12 months could go down the drain.
Which is why the path he takes this offseason not only could impact his Cowboys career in 2026, but potentially what happens beyond that.
He has a choice to make, and what he decides is going to capture the attention of the NFL world.
