The Dallas Cowboys have made it clear all season: they want George Pickens in their future plans. But as the regular season winds down and the 24-year-old wideout heads toward the end of his contract, the question hanging over the franchise is whether that commitment will turn into a long-term deal-or something more temporary.
Let’s start with the obvious: Pickens is a game-changer when he’s on. His production this season has been electric.
Heading into this week, he ranked eighth in the NFL in receptions (81), third in receiving yards (1,212), and seventh in touchdown catches (8). That’s the kind of stat line you see from players in the Offensive Player of the Year conversation.
And when he’s lined up opposite CeeDee Lamb, the Cowboys’ offense feels like it can stretch the field against anyone.
But the last few weeks have tested that narrative.
Pickens has hit a rough patch, and it’s come at a time when Dallas can least afford it. In back-to-back losses, he’s managed just eight catches on 15 targets for 70 yards and no touchdowns. That’s not the kind of production you expect from a WR1, especially one entering a pivotal contract offseason.
Still, the Cowboys aren’t panicking. They know defenses have started to key in on Pickens, rolling coverage his way and forcing the ball elsewhere.
They also know what he’s capable of when the offense is clicking. That context matters, and it’s why his recent dip in numbers isn’t expected to drastically change how Dallas approaches his future.
That said, the concerns aren’t just about stats. Some of the same red flags that followed Pickens during his time in Pittsburgh have started to reappear.
He was benched to start Week 11 against the Raiders after reportedly missing the team bus-never a good look, especially in a contract year. Then came Week 14 against Detroit, where he was accused of running half-hearted routes in a frustrating loss.
These are the kind of lapses that raise questions about consistency and professionalism-two things front offices weigh heavily when deciding whether to hand out long-term deals.
So what’s next?
Right now, the most likely outcome seems to be the franchise tag. According to Cowboys insider Jon Machota, the team may lean in that direction rather than lock Pickens up with a multi-year extension. That route wouldn’t thrill Pickens-players rarely love being tagged-but it would buy Dallas more time to evaluate his long-term fit without committing major guaranteed money.
One complicating factor? Pickens is represented by agent David Mulugheta, the same agent who represented Micah Parsons before that relationship with the Cowboys soured and ultimately led to Parsons being traded to Green Bay.
That history could make negotiations tricky, especially if there’s lingering tension between Mulugheta and Jerry Jones. And while Jones has proven he’s not afraid to play hardball, there’s still a belief that Pickens will be wearing a Cowboys uniform next season-tagged or not.
For now, Pickens is saying all the right things. When asked about the possibility of the tag, he kept it simple: “All I can do is just keep one day forward and keep going.”
That’s the mindset Dallas needs from him down the stretch. Because if the Cowboys are going to make a real postseason push, they’ll need Pickens at his best-on the field and off it.