George Pickens Hits a Rough Patch, But Cowboys' Faith Remains Firm
George Pickens has been one of the most electric wideouts in the NFL this season, but over the last two weeks, the fireworks have fizzled. After a three-game stretch where he looked flat-out unstoppable-hauling in 24 catches for 378 yards and two touchdowns-Pickens has gone quiet.
And not just quiet by his standards. Quiet, period.
In back-to-back losses to the Lions and Vikings, Pickens posted just 37 and 33 receiving yards, respectively. His effort was called into question in the Detroit game, and against Minnesota, he was nearly invisible. For a player who was being mentioned in the same breath as the league’s elite receivers just two weeks ago, the drop-off has been jarring.
But don’t expect the Cowboys front office to flinch.
When asked directly whether the recent downturn has altered the team’s outlook on Pickens’ future in Dallas beyond 2025, team owner Jerry Jones didn’t hesitate.
“No,” Jones said during his weekly appearance on 105.3 The Fan.
That one-word answer speaks volumes. Despite the recent slump, the Cowboys still see Pickens as a foundational piece of their offense. And while his recent play might factor into the dollar amount on his next deal, it doesn’t appear to be shaking the team’s long-term confidence in him.
The most likely scenario? The franchise tag.
That move would lock Pickens in for 2026 at around $28 million and give Dallas another year to evaluate him before making a long-term decision. According to team sources, it’s the “easy plan”-a way to buy time without walking away from a player who’s already shown flashes of All-Pro potential.
Jones acknowledged that Pickens wasn’t at his best against the Vikings, but he didn’t pin the blame solely on his receiver.
“They did a good job of mitigating him, and it was effective,” Jones said. “As for his effort, I would have liked to see him make a few of those outstanding catches that he makes, but I'd like to have seen Dak with more time to get him the ball.”
That last part is key. The Cowboys' offensive line struggled to keep the pocket clean, and when your quarterback is under constant pressure, even elite receivers can be schemed out of the game plan.
Still, it’s fair to wonder: Can a top-10 receiver really be taken out of a game that easily? Or is this just a temporary dip in what’s otherwise been a breakout season?
With three games left in the regular season, Pickens has a chance to rewrite the narrative. He’s already racked up 81 catches for 1,212 yards and eight touchdowns-a stat line that puts him firmly in the conversation for All-Pro honors. But the NFL is a “what have you done lately” league, and how he finishes the season could shape how the Cowboys proceed.
The next few weeks will be telling. Is this just a cold stretch, or a sign of something deeper? Can Pickens bounce back and remind everyone why he was torching secondaries just a few weeks ago?
One thing’s clear: Jerry Jones isn’t jumping ship. And if Pickens can find his rhythm again before the season wraps, he’ll have a strong case to be not just a short-term solution, but a long-term star in Dallas.