The Cowboys have yet to enter talks over a long-term deal for Pickens, so is there a reason to start panicking for fans?
Dallas Cowboys fans can be forgiven for thinking that Groundhog Day has started.
With last season's Micah Parsons fiasco still fresh in the mind as the All-Pro was traded to the Green Bay Packers over a contract dispute with Jerry Jones, we now have George Pickens in line for an extension.
With the Cowboys placing the franchise tag on Pickens, most viewed it as a good first step, but since then, Dallas has reportedly had no talks with George's representation.
Uh-oh, Dallas fans. Here we go again.
Granted, there is still plenty of time to work out a long-term deal, with the July 15 deadline looming large, but given the Cowboys don't seem motivated to get the ball rolling, we wonder if they are content to have Pickens play on the tag.
That has led some to think the Cowboys could trade Pickens either before or after the draft.
Our own Mike Fisher stated that those inside the building would have an "aneurysm" if the Joneses screw this up.
For Bleacher Report's Moe Moton, on a scale of 1-10 on his trade panic meter, Pickens lands at a 3.
"The Dallas Cowboys franchise-tagged George Pickens, though he isn't expected to report to team facilities on a one-year tender,” Moton wrote. "The Cowboys have until July 15 to sign Pickens to a long-term extension, which is the deadline for franchise-tagged players.
"The club has the financial flexibility to sign Pickens to a new deal, keeping the league's No. 2 passing attack from the previous campaign mostly intact. While a trade is possible, the Cowboys are more likely to strike a deal with Pickens before training camp."
Striking a deal before training camp is certainly optimistic, as Dallas hasn't shown a willingness to get big deals done on that timeline. Both Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb dragged all the way through training camp, but maybe Pickens will be different.
Dallas knows how vital George is to the offense's success in 2026, and if Jerry Jones really wants one last Super Bowl, he'll need Pickens on the roster.
A trade seems unlikely, then again, I thought Micah was getting signed, so what do I know? It would be the ultimate letdown if the Cowboys screw up this good thing with Pickens
They have the financial means to get it done and keep one of the best offenses together while they re-work the defense.
A Pickens trade, while unlikely, still just might happen, because it's Dallas doing the negotiating.