RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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See the full story · 2 sourcesOXNARD, CA – The Dallas Cowboys are taking a calculated gamble on wide receiver George Pickens.
Pickens will play this season on his $27.3 million franchise tender as the July 15 deadline to sign players on the franchise tag to extensions came and went.
Pickens told reporters this offseason that he intends to play this this year . It’s an stance the Cowboys are pleased with as the team begins training camp. But it’s also somewhat of a gamble. Pickens is represented by the same agent as Micah Parsons. The relationship between Parsons’ camp and the Cowboys soured publicly during Parsons’ contract gridlock, and he was subsequently traded to the Green Bay Packers .
Pickens reported to mandatory minicamp and is slated to participate in training camp. By all accounts, the wide receiver is poised to play under the franchise tag. Still, while unlikely, there’s a chance Pickens could have a change of heart about playing on a one-year rental deal. His price tag could also rise as the year progresses.
Nevertheless, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is fine with the risk. He he sees this year as an opportunity for Pickens to flourish, help the team win and, yes, increase his value.
“He’s a valued part of our aspirations and our potential success," Jones said Tuesday, July 28, at a news conference marking the beginning of the team's training camp. "The combinations that he has with the other talent on the team I think will make you feel pretty positive about what we’ve got a chance to do.
"I hope that he comes out here and is the most prolific, successful receiver in the NFL this year. How would you like to be a free agent and with his credentials and step out there and have a year like that? So, I wish all of that because if that happens, that was good for us, and we did it the way that we thought was best for everybody concerned.”
Pickens is coming off a career-year in which he was third in the NFL in receiving yards and eighth in receptions. He and CeeDee Lamb are one of the best receiving duos in the league. If Pickens produces similar statistics or if he’s the “most prolific” receiver in the NFL, his value will skyrocket to levels possibly out of the Cowboys’ price range.
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba is currently the NFL’s highest-paid wide receiver, averaging $42.1 million annually. Lamb earns $34 million a year. No NFL team pays two wide receivers $30-plus million annually.
The Cowboys are going to have to open up their wallets one way or another, though.
Quinnen Williams contract extension update
Standout defensive tackle Quinnen Williams is eligible for an extension. Cowboys chief operating officer and co-owner Stephen Jones said the team is “open” to giving Williams an extension. The Cowboys have already had dialogue with Williams’ representation.
“Absolutely. We’re very open to that," Stephen Jones said. "We want Quinnen (Williams) here for the long haul. Obviously, we’ve had a lot of resources tied up in him, and he knows what we think about him. We have had some discussions with his agent about how to go about the process. But certainly he’s one of the best in the business, and we know what kind of what that market is. Certainly, he’s at the top of the list in terms of people that we want to keep around here long term."
Stephen Jones added that camp seems to be a “nice time” to contracts done. The Cowboys are enjoying the California sunshine and the vibes are good as training camp commences, but there are important decisions on the horizon.
Follow USA TODAY Sports' Tyler Dragon on X @TheTylerDragon .
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY Sports: Cowboys taking calculated gamble with George Pickens: 'Best for everybody'
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