The Dallas Cowboys made it clear from the moment they acquired wide receiver George Pickens last year that they would like to sign him to a long-term deal. With NFL free agency just a few months away, the club has a limited amount of time to keep him from reaching the open market.
According to Calvin Watkins of The Dallas Morning News, the Cowboys have not had any contract talks with Pickens about a new deal. They are not taking that same approach with running back Javonte Williams, reportedly holding preliminary discussions with him and planning for more after he hires an agent.
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Pickens, who earned second-team All-Pro honors this past season in Dallas, is poised to cash in if he hits the open market. After earning a $3.656 million base salary in 2025, the standout receiver could earn upward of $31 million per season in his next long-term deal.
That poses a bit of a problem for Dallas. Coming off a breakout season, Javonte Williams is poised to earn a significant raise if he is resigned to a new contract. The Cowboys also need to make new investments defensively, improving both the secondary and front seven.
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Given the absence of contract negotiations to this point, what happens next for Dallas feels predictable. Sometime between February 17 and March 3, the Cowboys will apply the franchise tag to Pickens. It will prevent him from reaching the open market, locking him into a one-year deal in the ballpark of $28 million fully guaranteed for the 2026 season.
That will put the Cowboys in a familiar spot: having a disgruntled star stuck with the team on the franchise tag. It will create plenty of headlines throughout the summer and potentially drag into the end of training camp. In the end, Pickens will inevitably spend the 2026 NFL season with Dallas.
