The Dallas Cowboys are on borrowed time with Pro Bowl wide receiver George Pickens, because buckle up, the 2026 season is looking like his grand finale in Dallas. While that’s a seriously rough thought when everyone’s still buzzing with optimism in training camp, the reality is stark: the wide receiver contract market is absolutely exploding, and Dallas just isn’t going to be able to keep up with what Pickens can demand.
The WR Market Just Blew Up, And Pickens Is The Next Bomb
We saw the writing on the wall recently. The Baltimore Ravens inked two-time Pro Bowl wideout Zay Flowers to a reported four-year, $140 million extension. That deal is exactly what Minnesota Vikings star Justin Jefferson got, with Flowers securing $108 million guaranteed. And that’s not all. Just in June, the Atlanta Falcons locked down Drake London, who came out of the 2022 NFL Draft with Pickens, on a four-year, $141.054 million deal with a staggering $99.87 million guaranteed. That made London the third-highest-paid receiver in the league, period.
Here’s the kicker: Pickens has outplayed both of them on multiple fronts. He piled up more receiving yards last season than either Flowers or London. He also leads that whole trio in career receiving yards with 4,270 and a ridiculous 16.0 yards per reception average. London has him beat in career receptions with 309 and a narrow edge in career touchdowns with 22, compared to Pickens’ 21. But let’s be real, Pickens can now walk into negotiations and demand more money than both Flowers and London and not even blink.
Dallas Played It Risky, And Pickens Is Making Them Pay
Right now, Pickens is stuck on the franchise tag for 2026, which means he’s getting $27.298 million, all fully guaranteed. But get this, the Cowboys chose *not* to even talk long-term contract with him and his agent, David Mulugheta, this offseason. Seriously? It’s baffling, especially after the year he just had. Pickens put up a career-best 1,429 receiving yards, hauled in 9 touchdowns, and snagged 93 catches. That insane production ranked him third in the entire league in receiving yards, earning the 25-year-old his first Pro Bowl and second-team All-Pro selections.
Dallas owner Jerry Jones tried to spin the franchise tag as a “win-win” situation for everyone involved, saying, “This can be a very win-win thing that we’ve done here: us, George and George being on the team.” He even said, “Make no mistake about it: George could be a Cowbo” but that quote cuts off. Yeah, “could be” is the operative phrase now, isn’t it?
This wasn’t some minor negotiation. This was a massive blunder. Dallas had a chance to lock down an All-Pro caliber receiver after his career year and instead, they decided to kick the can down the road. Now, with the market soaring, it looks like they’ve basically guaranteed Pickens’ exit. Cowboys fans, enjoy every snap of 2026, because it’s going to be a wild ride watching a player you know is heading out the door.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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