• Key takeaways:
  • Cowboys owner Jerry Jones says he wants to keep WR George Pickens in Dallas “a long time.”
  • Pickens posted career highs in 2025 (93 catches, 1,429 yards, 9 TDs) and is an impending free agent.
  • Teammates including Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb publicly support re-signing Pickens; restructuring or franchise tag remain possibilities.
  • Market expectations: Pickens could command $20M+ per year; a franchise tag would guarantee roughly $28M for 2026.

H2: Jones signals urgency to lock up breakout receiver

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones made it clear he hopes George Pickens remains in Dallas for the long haul. Jones told the team’s official site he’s been in regular contact with Pickens and is “looking forward to getting things worked out so George can be a Cowboy a long time.”

The comments underline the club’s interest in retaining a player who became an immediate focal point of Dallas’ offense after being acquired in an offseason trade.

H3: Pickens’ breakout season and rising value

Pickens, 24, turned in career-best numbers in 2025: 93 receptions for 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns. Those totals earned him a Pro Bowl nod and offensive MVP honors at the league’s all-star flag football event.

That performance pushes Pickens into the upper tier of the NFL’s receiver market. Agents, front offices and analysts expect his next deal to land in the neighborhood of $20 million per season or more.

H3: Contract paths — extension, market deal or franchise tag

Dallas faces several options. The team can negotiate a long-term extension, allow Pickens to test free agency, or use the franchise tag to keep him for one season at an estimated $28 million-plus guarantee.

Jones’ public push suggests the Cowboys will pursue a negotiated extension first, but salary-cap realities and a roster with multiple high-paid players complicate matters.

H2: Locker-room support makes a difference

Quarterback Dak Prescott called keeping Pickens “vital,” noting the wideout’s impact on the offense. Prescott’s endorsement adds weight to Jones’ pursuit.

CeeDee Lamb, another top-paid Cowboys receiver, told The Dan Patrick Show he would be open to restructuring his own contract “if it’s necessary” to retain Pickens. Lamb added he believes Pickens will earn “every penny he deserves here in Dallas.”

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H4: What’s next — a busy offseason ahead

Negotiations will heat up as the Cowboys balance cap space and talent retention. Pickens has publicly said his “price tag went up” after 2025 and that he’d “love to” stay in Dallas. Team leaders appear aligned in making that happen, but the final outcome will depend on dollars and timing.

For Dallas fans, the message from ownership and teammates is clear: keeping George Pickens is a priority. Whether the club reaches an extension, uses the franchise tag, or sees Pickens test the open market will be one of the top storylines of the 2026 offseason.

Image Referance: https://www.nfl.com/news/cowboys-owner-jerry-jones-looks-forward-to-keeping-wr-george-pickens-in-dallas-a-long-time