The Dallas Cowboys are heading into a pivotal offseason-one that could shape the trajectory of the franchise for years to come. After a frustrating 7-9-1 campaign that failed to meet expectations, the front office is under pressure to deliver.
The coaching staff, led by offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer, showed flashes of promise, and with some high-end draft capital in their back pocket, there’s at least a glimmer of optimism. But make no mistake: everything this offseason revolves around one name-George Pickens.
The 24-year-old wide receiver, who earned second-team All-Pro honors in his first year with the Cowboys, has quickly become a focal point of the franchise’s future. Dallas didn’t just stumble into Pickens-they traded away two draft picks to get him.
That kind of move signals commitment. But now comes the hard part: paying him.
And that’s where things get complicated.
Jerry Jones has a well-documented history of playing hardball in contract negotiations, especially when it comes to shelling out top-tier money. So while fans may be clamoring for the team to lock up Pickens long-term, there’s a lingering sense of uncertainty.
Is Jones willing to make Pickens one of the highest-paid receivers in the league? Or will he let this drag out and risk alienating one of the team’s most dynamic offensive weapons?
It’s not just about dollars and cents-it’s about message and momentum. Letting Pickens walk, or even letting it get to that point, could send a signal to the rest of the locker room that Dallas isn’t willing to take care of its stars. And in today’s NFL, where player empowerment is stronger than ever, that’s a dangerous precedent to set.
NFL analyst Benjamin Solak recently weighed in on how this saga might unfold, predicting that after a drawn-out negotiation, the Cowboys will ultimately make Pickens the fourth-highest-paid wideout in the league-slotted just below CeeDee Lamb at $34 million per year, but ahead of DK Metcalf’s $33 million. Solak even went a step further, forecasting a Dak Prescott MVP season in 2026 with Pickens back in the fold.
That’s a bold vision-but let’s not get ahead of ourselves.
Right now, the odds of Pickens returning to Dallas feel like a coin flip-maybe slightly less. Let’s call it 40%.
Elite receivers don’t just grow on trees, and Pickens would command serious attention (and money) on the open market. Of course, the Cowboys could try to keep him off the market entirely by using the franchise tag.
But that’s a move that often backfires. Players don’t like being tagged, especially ones with Pickens’ résumé and personality.
It’s the kind of situation that can lead to holdouts, distractions, and friction-none of which Dallas can afford right now.
Pickens has had his share of off-the-field issues, and that’s part of what makes this situation so tricky. You’re not just paying for production-you’re gambling on consistency, professionalism, and locker room chemistry.
But at the same time, the Cowboys knew what they were getting into when they traded for him. This wasn’t a surprise.
This was a calculated risk. Now they have to decide if they’re all in.
If the Cowboys don’t get a deal done before free agency opens on March 11, the chances of Pickens walking out the door increase significantly. And if that happens, Dallas will be left with a gaping hole on offense and a whole lot of questions about their long-term plan.
As for Dak’s MVP chances? That’s a nice thought, but let’s be real-this defense needs major work before anyone starts engraving trophies.
Prescott can put up big numbers, sure. He’s proven that.
But if the Cowboys can’t stop anyone, it won’t matter how many touchdowns he throws. This team needs balance, and right now, they’re not close to having it.
So yes, bringing back Pickens is a priority. But it’s just one piece of a much larger puzzle.
If Dallas wants to be a serious contender in 2026, they’ll need more than just a star receiver and an MVP-caliber quarterback. They’ll need a complete team-and that starts with making the right moves this offseason.