Packers Stars Make a Push for George Pickens, But Cap Crunch Clouds the Dream
George Pickens is officially one of the hottest names on the NFL free agent market, and if a couple of Green Bay Packers stars had their way, he’d be catching passes in green and gold next season. But while the recruiting pitch is strong, the financial math tells a different story.
Let’s start with the players doing the recruiting. Two of the Packers’ biggest stars - quarterback Jordan Love and pass-rusher Micah Parsons - have made it clear they’d love to see Pickens in Green Bay. And they’re not exactly being subtle about it.
Pickens, who was traded from Pittsburgh to Dallas ahead of the 2025 season, had a breakout year with the Cowboys. He posted 93 catches for 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns - a WR1 stat line that turned heads across the league. After showing flashes in Pittsburgh, Pickens exploded in Dallas, proving he’s not just potential - he’s production.
Now, he’s about to hit the open market. And while the Cowboys may want to keep him, they’re not the only ones interested.
Pro Bowl Recruiting Season
At the Pro Bowl, wideout CeeDee Lamb pulled back the curtain a bit on the behind-the-scenes recruiting efforts happening in real time. According to Lamb, Micah Parsons has been in Pickens’ ear - and not exactly quietly.
“Everybody in my face is trying to recruit him [Pickens] while I’m standing right next to him. Micah, for one. I don’t know what’s going on with him,” Lamb told Kay Adams during a Pro Bowl interview.
Pressed for more names, Lamb didn’t hesitate: “Green Bay clearly wants him,” he said, pointing to another Packer, cornerback Keisean Nixon, as part of the full-court press.
And it didn’t stop there. When Adams spoke with Jordan Love, the Packers’ franchise quarterback didn’t hide his interest in the Cowboys wideout either.
“If you can bring in another player, George Pickens. He had a phenomenal year, he’s a great player.
I would love to have the most talented players on our team at all times, and we’ll see,” Love said. “I played basketball with him.
I know what type of bounce he’s got.”
Love and Pickens also share the same agent, which adds a layer of familiarity - and maybe a little extra optimism - to the equation.
Cap Realities vs. Roster Dreams
But here’s the catch: wanting Pickens and affording Pickens are two very different things.
Pickens played out the final year of his rookie deal in 2025, and he’s now set to cash in big. According to Spotrac, he’s projected to land a four-year, $122 million deal - that’s about $30 million per year. That’s elite WR money, and it’s going to take a team with serious cap flexibility to make it happen.
The Cowboys, like the Packers, are currently over the projected salary cap. But Dallas has a path to clear space - potentially up to $147.2 million - by making some calculated moves.
Green Bay? Not so much.
The Packers are already feeling the squeeze, and things are only going to get tighter. They’re staring down a 2026 offseason where tough decisions loom. Veterans like Rashan Gary, Elgton Jenkins, and even running back Josh Jacobs could be cap casualties just to make the books work.
The reason? Green Bay is heavily invested in two cornerstone players - and rightly so.
Parsons is on a deal averaging $46.5 million per year, while Love’s average annual salary is $55 million. In 2026, Love will carry a $36 million cap hit, with Parsons not far behind at $19.2 million.
When you’ve got two stars at premium positions - quarterback and edge rusher - eating up that much cap space, there’s only so much room left for splashy additions.
Sure, the Packers can get creative. They can restructure deals, extend contracts, and trim the roster around the edges. But even then, they’re unlikely to find the kind of financial breathing room needed to match what Pickens will command on the open market.
The Bottom Line
George Pickens to Green Bay? It’s a fun idea - and clearly one that’s being floated around by the guys in the locker room. The Pro Bowl chatter shows there’s real interest from within the Packers’ core.
But unless something drastic changes on the financial front, it’s probably just that: a dream.
Green Bay’s front office has to prioritize long-term roster health, and with two megadeals already on the books, the room to add a $30 million-per-year receiver just isn’t there. Not without major sacrifices elsewhere.
Still, if there’s one thing we’ve learned about NFL offseasons, it’s that nothing is impossible. But for now, Packers fans might want to enjoy the recruiting stories and Pro Bowl banter - because the odds of seeing Pickens in Lambeau next fall are slim, no matter how loud the pitch gets.