The Dallas Cowboys have some big decisions looming this offseason, and at the top of that list is George Pickens. The Pro Bowl wideout-and the offensive MVP of that game, no less-made a serious impact in his first season in Dallas. Now, the front office has to figure out how to keep him from hitting the open market.
When Pickens arrived from Pittsburgh last May, there were some raised eyebrows. His time with the Steelers had its share of headlines, and not always for the right reasons.
But once he landed in Dallas, all that noise faded. On the field and in the locker room, Pickens was everything the Cowboys needed him to be-and then some.
Let’s talk production. Pickens put up career-highs across the board: 93 catches, 1,429 yards, and nine touchdowns.
That kind of output earned him a Second-Team All-Pro nod and his first Pro Bowl trip. He didn’t just fit into the Cowboys’ offense-he elevated it.
And it’s not just fans who want him back. Dak Prescott has made it clear he wants Pickens in the huddle again next season.
CeeDee Lamb, the Cowboys’ WR1 and one of the best in the league, went so far as to say he wouldn’t care if Pickens ended up making more money than him. That’s the kind of respect Pickens has earned in that locker room.
Now, another iconic Cowboy has joined the chorus: Michael Irvin. The Hall of Famer and three-time Super Bowl champ isn’t just supporting the idea of bringing Pickens back-he’s demanding it.
“I was just with Coach Schottenheimer for dinner the other night talking about what we need going forward,” Irvin said during Super Bowl media week. “I love where they’re at offensively.
We saw the makings of a real potent offense. Now what we have to do is solidify that with more consistency.”
Irvin didn’t stop there. He emphasized the importance of getting Pickens signed before training camp. That’s not just about locking down a top-tier talent-it’s about continuity, chemistry, and setting the tone for a season that could define the Cowboys' trajectory for years to come.
“The No. 1 thing for Jerry Jones, and I’m going to make sure he understands it, is you’ve got to get George Pickens signed and in camp so they can start off with one mindset with everybody aligned and everybody ready,” Irvin said. “And then take these resources that you got from the Micah Parsons situation to add to those two defensive tackles to attack the middle of the offense. You do that, then you’ve got a chance to be in this game next year.”
That’s a pretty pointed blueprint from a guy who’s been part of building a champion in Dallas before. Irvin’s not just talking about signing Pickens-he’s talking about building a Super Bowl contender around him.
The urgency here is real. If Pickens misses training camp while waiting on a deal, that’s valuable time lost in building rhythm with Prescott and the rest of the offense. And in a year where expectations are sky-high, the Cowboys can’t afford a slow start.
As for how Dallas gets this done, there are a couple of paths. The franchise tag is one option, though it would come with a hefty $28 million price tag for a single season. A long-term extension would likely cost even more annually-potentially north of $30 million per year-but it would lock in a core piece of the offense for years to come.
Jerry Jones has said he’s “looking forward to getting things worked out so George can be a Cowboy a long time.” That’s a promising sentiment, but Cowboys fans have heard similar promises before. The Micah Parsons trade is still fresh in everyone’s mind as a reminder that nothing is guaranteed until ink hits paper.
Still, with Pickens expressing his desire to return, the locker room fully behind him, and legends like Irvin pushing for action, the message couldn’t be clearer: if the Cowboys want to take the next step, keeping George Pickens in Dallas is non-negotiable.