We know that Dallas isn't negotiating with Pickens in 2026, but if it plans to do so in 2027, it's going to be an expensive exercise.
For most, the belief is that the 2026 season will be George Pickens' last with the Dallas Cowboys.
Playing on the franchise tag this season, Pickens will net $27.3 million, but he craves a long-term deal. Dallas made it clear it wouldn't negotiate a deal this year, with the franchise potentially set to enter talks next offseason.
We don't know the exact reasons why the Cowboys didn't want to entertain a long-term deal for George, but we have an idea.
Given his history of behavioral issues, while last year, for the most part, was good, maybe the franchise wanted to see him do it again before giving him a long-term deal.
But we also know that the longer the franchise waits, the more it will cost as the "contract leaves" continue to fall.
First, it was Drake London with the Atlanta Falcons, who secured a $141 million deal at $35 million per year, and then Baltimore Ravens weapon Zay Flowers got a $140 million deal with $35 million APY.
And Pickens, who was on 105.3 The Fan, was asked about Flowers' new deal.
"I feel like that's nice," Pickens said. "I honestly feel like that's nice. Personally, I let the world speak for me, but me personally, I think I'm definitely in that range or above."
So it isn't too hard to imagine that if Pickens wants to enter talks with the Cowboys next offseason, that $35 million APY is the absolute minimum the franchise will have to offer.
In truth, it will likely be somewhere near Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Ja'Marr Chase and be around $40 million APY depending on the season he has.
Pickens might not even need to have the same type of year he had last season to warrant that sort of money. The league knows what he can do with a competent quarterback like Dak Prescott.
Have the Cowboys priced themselves out of keeping Pickens? Most likely.
While they do still have the franchise tag next season (at $33 mil) in their back pocket, I'd hardly imagine Pickens or his agent will be happy signing that again.
Most knew it was going to be an expensive exercise to keep Pickens around beyond 2026, and as more contract leaves fall, it's only going to get more challenging.
