RESOLVING THE LEDGER
This is one outlet's own report from Newsweek — the article as it was filed. Other outlets are covering the same event; open the full story to compare every source side by side.
See the full story · 1 sources
0 Share Newsweek is a Trust Project member See more of our trusted coverage when you search. Prefer Newsweek on Google to see more of our trusted coverage when you search. Jerry Jones has been known to take risks, but the Dallas Cowboys have put themselves in an awkward situation with George Pickens.
Pickens is coming off a breakout 2025 season in which he posted career highs across the board and clearly established himself as one of the best wide receivers in the NFL . He finished with 1,429 receiving yards (third-most in the league) and nine touchdowns on 93 catches, averaging 15.4 yards per catch and earning his first Pro Bowl nod and second-team All-Pro honors.
But instead of paying him like a true WR1, the Cowboys chose to franchise-tag him for the 2026 season. Pickens is now set to make roughly $27.3 million this season — a high figure by most standards, but still well below what he's shown to be worth. More concerning is that the tag offers zero security beyond this season. A long-term deal would have signaled the organization's belief in Pickens' future in Dallas, but instead, it's clear the team wants to see more first.
According to franchise quarterback Dak Prescott, though, the Cowboys could be playing a risky game.
"George, you know he loves football. And at the end of the day, it's not for the money," Prescott said during a recent appearance on Up & Adams. "However, he should get every dollar that he deserves because he's a hell of a player. And we should probably give it to him sooner than later because it [the price] is only gonna go up."
More news : Cardinals HC Mike LaFleur Reveals True Severity of Carson Beck’s Injury
The NFL has already seen the wide receiver market explode this past offseason. Jaxon Smith-Njigba signed a record-setting four-year, $168.6 million deal with the Seattle Seahawks and is now the league's highest-paid receiver at $42.15 million per year. Drake London also signed a four-year, $141 million deal with the Atlanta Falcons, and Zay Flowers agreed to a four-year, $140 million deal with the Baltimore Ravens.
Pickens has proven he belongs in that tier, but it remains to be seen whether Dallas agrees. Complicating matters further, the market will likely reset again next offseason — particularly with Puka Nacua still unsigned on a new deal with the Los Angeles Rams. Nacua posted the second-most receiving yards in the league last year (1,715), behind only Smith-Njigba (1,793), and is expected to surpass Smith-Njigba's record-setting contract whenever he signs.
More news : Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones Sends Clear Message 1 Year After Micah Parsons Trade
More news : Raiders’ Klint Kubiak Sums up Fernando Mendoza’s Debut in One Telling Quote
If Pickens puts up another All-Pro-caliber season — which all signs point to him doing — the Cowboys may have no choice but to pay him well above what it would have cost them this offseason, or risk watching him walk and sign a long-term deal elsewhere.
AIPROPX is an independent multi-source news index — we track, compare, and connect coverage from across the web into one place you won't find anywhere else.