Cowboys Remain Unlikely To Trade Or Extend WR George Pickens

Often, players who have been hit with a franchise tag in lieu of a long-term deal harbor some animosity toward their team. That does not appear to be the case with Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens (at least publicly). While Pickens is reportedly concerned about the prospect of being tagged a second time in 2027, he appreciated that Dallas brass was candid with him about the fact that a multiyear extension would not be in the cards this year, and he signed his franchise tender in early April.

Pickens, 25, also attended mandatory minicamp and will not hold out of training camp, and the tenor of the situation presently suggests a “hold-in” will not be in the offing either. In a recent appearance on The Pat McAfee Show, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport – who reported earlier this year a tag-and-trade scenario could be in play – says he does not believe the Cowboys are bluffing when they say they do not intend to trade Pickens (video link). 

Instead, appearances match reality in this instance. As we heard back in March, Rapoport says Dallas simply wants Pickens to prove last season was not a contract-year spike. They are hoping the former Steeler can not only be as effective between the lines in 2026 as he was in ‘25 (93/1,493/9), but also that he can stave off the maturity issues that ultimately forced Pittsburgh to trade him to the Cowboys in the first place. If that happens, Rapoport believes Pickens will be able to cash in and become one of the highest-paid wideouts in the NFL next offseason.

So despite some rumblings from last month that Pickens, his public remarks notwithstanding, is displeased with his situation and that a trade sending a young player and draft capital to Dallas could be enough to pry him away from Jerry Jones & Co., it does not seem a trade is on the table at this time. Rapoport does confirm there will not be an about-face on the long-term contract matter either, with no extension anticipated by the July 15 deadline.

If Pickens does put on an encore performance in 2026, it remains unclear whether the Cowboys would be the team to pony up a bank-breaking contract (Rapoport does not offer any indication one way or another). With fellow wideout CeeDee Lamb’s $34MM/year deal on the books through 2028, Dallas could be put to a difficult decision next offseason. If the club does opt for a second franchise tag for Pickens, the spring of 2027 may not be as peaceful.