Dallas faces a looming financial crossroads as mounting contract demands and franchise tag complexities threaten to end George Pickens’ tenure despite his explosive impact on the offense.
The Dallas Cowboys have George Pickens under contract for the 2026 season after he signed the franchise tag, which most think is a good idea.
Pickens is set to make roughly $27 million in the tag in 2026, but that isn't what has fans a little antsy.
It's what happens after that.
We know that the Cowboys have the right to tag Pickens again next offseason, which would be at $33 million, so in theory, you could have George for $60-ish million for two seasons, which is well under market value.
But will that happen?
Will the Cowboys want to have two receivers earning at least $30 million APY, plus Dak Prescott and his huge contract? That remains to be seen.
And so, I offer this. Will the 2026 season be Pickens' last as a Cowboy? "The Last Dance,'' so to speak?
You can certainly make a case for it, and in truth, right now, I feel like the odds are higher that Pickens is on another team in 2027 than with Dallas.
Of course, I could be proven wrong, but will Pickens want to be playing on the tag again? That's doubtful. So that brings into focus what happens next offseason.
We know how potent the Cowboys' offense was last season with George on the field, so you can easily see the unit again being among the top units in football in 2026.
But after this season, it feels like Dallas and George will shake hands and walk away, which would leave the Cowboys with a decent hole in the receiver room, because Ryan Flournoy, I don't think, is WR2 material...yet.
Of course, Jerry Jones and the front office could buck the trend and sign Pickens to a long-term deal to keep him here for the foreseeable future and have him and CeeDee terrorize NFC East defenses for years to come.
But I think most know that isn't too likely to happen.
Again, very much in play is that second tag. That would mean Pickens makes $60 million guaranteed over two years.
Nothing wrong with that ... unless he simply demands more - and creates a problem, at some point, in expressing that.
Pickens showed last season what a weapon he can be, and if he can replicate it or get close to it, the number he thinks he's worth will only increase.
In truth, I don't think the Cowboys even want to entertain a Lamb-like contract of $34 million APY, let alone what Pickens' price would be if he lights up the league again.
Which is why I think there's a real chance that 2026 will be George's last as a Cowboy.
