Pro Bowl receiver George Pickens desires a "best deal" that benefits all parties, but his agent's influence and the Cowboys' financial strategy will shape his future.
We are entering another Dallas Cowboys offseason with yet again a contract saga hanging over our heads.
This time, it's Pro Bowl receiver George Pickens who is front and center after a super 2025 season that saw him post 1,429 yards and 9 TDs from 93 receptions.
He was easily Dak Prescott's best weapon, but that comes with a cost.
With Pickens, if he chooses, hitting the free agent market and likely getting something north of $30 million APY, the Cowboys know it will be pricy. But all season, we have heard from George that he wants to stay with the Cowboys if he can.
But we know it will all come down to the money.
The Cowboys have repeatedly stated they want Pickens to remain with the team, but then again, they said the same about Micah Parsons.
With the Cowboys having the cap space to sign Pickens and a host of other free agents, how the franchise plays this out will be interesting to watch.
But we've talked about the Cowboys' side of the negotiation.
What about George's? What sort of deal does he want?
"Just the ultimate best deal when it helps everybody…" Pickens said via dallascowboys.com's Tommy Yarrish. "If it's the best thing for both parties, then I'm willing to do anything. But like I said, I can't control it, so I just kind of chill."
That will be music to Jerry and Stephen Jones' ears. A team-friendly deal.
But let's not forget, Pickens' agent, David Mulugheta, will have a huge say in the price tag for his client, and if history tells us anything, what George wants and what he will get are two different things.
And as we approach free agency in the coming weeks, have there been conversations between Pickens and the Cowboys?
"No, not me personally," Pickens said. "Definitely probably my agent. He doesn't tell me who he calls all the time, so definitely just kind of wait it out and hope for the best."
So now we play the waiting game.
We know how long these contracts can take, especially with the Cowboys' love of staying "above the fold," as our Mike Fisher often states.
But there appears to be a desire from both sides to get this deal done.
Time will tell if it does.