Pickens slams his former coach's doubts, while Pro Bowl whispers link him to Kansas City's star-studded offense. Will he stay or move?
FRISCO - A year ago, any team in the NFL could’ve gotten its greedy paws on George Pickens. His Pittsburgh Steelers were exhausted by his supposed “behavioral baggage’’ - coach Mike Tomlin went public with a demand that the gifted 24-year-old “grow up’’ - and they were done with him.
A third-round pick - and headlines about what a “risk’’ it represented - was all it took for the Dallas Cowboys to pry Pickens from Pittsburgh.
But now? He’s a Pro Bowler in a Dallas uniform … and it seems all of those teams who didn’t want him last spring would like a mulligan this time around.
As a result, Bleacher Report is listing a pool of teams that will be interested in Pickens as he hits free agency. Lamar Jackson’s Ravens, the rebuilding Raiders, the rebounding Commanders and Patrick Mahomes’ Chiefs are all included in the speculation.
And I get it. Take the Chiefs. B/R writes, “The Kansas City pass-catching group needs a makeover. Tight end Travis Kelce will contemplate retirement … in the offseason. Wideouts Hollywood Brown, JuJu Smith-Schuster and Tyquan Thornton will be unrestricted free agents.
“Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy will be on rookie deals next year … Kansas City can bring in Pickens to open up its passing attack. He can also be an upgrade over Rice if the team has second thoughts about the 25-year-old entering a contract year.’’
Hey, if I’m a Chiefs fan, that - Patrick to Pickens! - sounds great!
There’s a problem with the logic, though. …
Because I'm predicing Pickens isn’t going to hit free agency.
Now is the time of year that we start playing the “if” game.
The Cowboys’ new star wide receiver proved so much in his inaugural season with Dallas, including his ability to thrive alongside a WR1 (CeeDee Lamb) and to himself serve as a WR1 as well. The behavioral blips were few; he’s come across as less of a “diva’’ that most of his positional peers.
He has the public endorsement of everybody from Jerry Jones to Dak Prescott, and he has this: Pickens is valued as being worthy of Dallas’ $28 million franchise tag. And a team source told me weeks ago that using that while continuing negotiations with Pickens is an “easy step’’ this spring.
So the March 3 deadline, assuming no long-term deal is forged, Pickens will be tagged … and the two sides can continue to negotiate until mid-July, at which time - assuming no new deal - he’ll play on the tag.
Pickens’ debut season with the Cowboys was spectacular and he is now a key to the Cowboys’ belief that they’ll again boast one of the league’s most potent offensive attacks in 2026.
Are there obstacles here? Lamb already makes upwards of $35 million annually at the position, and Pickens could ask for that. He could also wage an empty protest against the tag and conduct a training-camp holdout before he eventually caves. And in fairness, he’s been on his best behavior this season maybe as a result of being in a contract year … so some concern that he might revert to “Pittsburgh Pickens’’ is worthy of Dallas front-office discussion.
A critic might note that Pickens steered a bit out of his lane last week by commenting on social media on the firing of defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus. It was subtle - just a "like'' - and it was telling, as it regards the locker-room echos about what these players thought of that coach.
But if that's as bad as it gets. It's "passion'' - and Dallas can live with that.
Meanwhile, I suppose, given Jones’ history of controversial dealings when it comes to big-money contracts, media outlets wishing to play the “if” game on Pickens’ future. (After all, Micah Parsons’ “Cowboy for Life’’ plan didn’t quite work out, right?)
But all involved here at The Star have made their positions clear.
“He’s an outstanding - let me emphasize this again - outstanding teammate,” Jones said about Pickens. “He brings energy to the team even when he’s not making some of those great receptions. … Bottom line, it’s working, and it’s precious to have it here right at this time with what we’re trying to do with Dak and how we’re trying to maximize having him.”
Added Pickens on wanting to stick with the Cowboys: "Definitely. The guys here, that's why I always say, I feel like you cannot get that everywhere. I've kind of been at other places, top 30 visits when I was coming out of pre-draft …
“The guys here and the culture here is just a little different."
And so … my bottom line: Other teams can dream. Media outlets can guess. But the Cowboys have a master plan - and George Pickens (right down to some social-media subtlety) is very much included in it.