George Pickens is heading into the offseason as one of the most intriguing names on the free agent board-but the Dallas Cowboys don’t sound ready to let him walk. According to reports, the team is intent on keeping the explosive wideout in the fold, either by locking him into a long-term deal or, if needed, placing the franchise tag on him.
Pickens, who arrived in Dallas via trade from the Pittsburgh Steelers prior to last season, just put together the most productive campaign of his young career. In 2025, he posted career highs across the board: 93 catches, 1,429 receiving yards, and nine touchdowns.
That kind of output doesn’t just happen by accident-it’s the result of a player finding his rhythm in a system that knows how to use him. And in Dallas, Pickens looked like a star in the making.
At just 24 years old, Pickens is entering the prime of his career. If he were to test the open market in March, there’s little doubt he’d command top dollar-likely north of $30 million per year.
That’s elite receiver money, and based on the numbers he put up in 2025, he’s earned a seat at that table. But the Cowboys have the first move, and tagging him would give them another year to either negotiate a long-term extension or evaluate whether he can sustain this level of performance.
There’s no question about Pickens’ talent. He’s a dynamic playmaker with the ability to stretch the field, win contested catches, and change the momentum of a game with a single play.
But consistency has been the knock. Throughout his career, he’s had stretches where he disappears from the stat sheet, and he’s also found himself in the headlines for reasons that had nothing to do with football.
That’s the balancing act for Dallas-deciding whether the highs outweigh the volatility.
Still, it’s hard to ignore what Pickens just did in 2025. He was named a second-team All-Pro, and his chemistry with the Cowboys’ offense was evident.
If he can replicate-or even build on-that production in 2026, whether under the franchise tag or a new deal, he’ll be in line for a massive payday the following offseason. And if he does it in a Cowboys uniform, it could be the beginning of a long-term partnership.
For now, Dallas holds the cards. The question is whether they want to bet on Pickens as a foundational piece for the future-or take the safer route and give him one more year to prove he’s worth that kind of investment. Either way, the spotlight will be on No. 14 in 2026.