Cowboys' George Pickens breaks silence on contract extension rumors
Context:
George Pickens, recently acquired by the Dallas Cowboys from the Pittsburgh Steelers in exchange for a third-round pick in 2026, has addressed speculation about his contract status. With his current contract expiring at the end of the season and predictions of a lucrative four-year, $101 million deal on the horizon, Pickens emphasizes that he is not focused on contract negotiations but rather on contributing to a winning culture at the Cowboys. Having experienced inconsistent quarterback support in his career, Pickens is optimistic about playing alongside Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb, which could propel him to a standout season. His commitment to the team's success aligns with the Cowboys' goals of outperforming division rivals like the Washington Commanders and the Philadelphia Eagles. Despite the focus on team objectives, Pickens' choice to delay contract discussions might ultimately lead to a significant financial impact for the Cowboys in securing his long-term services.
Dive Deeper:
George Pickens was traded to the Dallas Cowboys from the Pittsburgh Steelers, involving a third-round pick in 2026, and he is set to become a free agent at the end of the season.
There are projections of Pickens signing a four-year, $101 million contract, but he has publicly stated that he is not currently concerned with contract talks and is instead focused on contributing to a winning culture with the Cowboys.
Pickens' career has been marked by inconsistent quarterback play, yet he has achieved a 1,000-yard season and recorded 900 yards last season despite missing games.
The presence of quarterback Dak Prescott and fellow receiver CeeDee Lamb at Dallas presents Pickens with the opportunity to reach new career heights and potentially secure a major contract.
Pickens expresses enthusiasm about the collaborative potential with Lamb, highlighting the importance of teamwork over individual competition in achieving football success.
The Cowboys aim to leverage Pickens' mindset focused on team success to surpass division competitors like the Washington Commanders and Philadelphia Eagles.
While Pickens prioritizes team goals, delaying contract negotiations could result in a significant financial commitment from the Cowboys to retain him in the future.
The Dallas Cowboys traded a third-round pick in 2026 in a deal to acquire George Pickens from the Pittsburgh Steelers. Pickens will be a free agent after the season ends.
Spotrac projects him to sign a four-year, $101 million deal. After trading a potential top-100 pick to land him, many are expecting the Cowboys to reach a long-term extension with Pickens. However, Pickens has made it clear that he is not thinking about free agency or an extension.
"I'm kind of where my feet are right now, to be honest," Pickens said, according to NFL.com's Nick Shook. "I'm not really thinking about contract talks. I'm just glad to be here at Cowboys right now, you know, trying to build a winning culture."
Cowboys fans should be glad to hear that Pickens is focused on winning. That mindset is what the Cowboys will need if they want to finish ahead of the Washington Commanders and Philadelphia Eagles. However, Pickens' decision could end up being an expensive one for the Cowboys.
Pickens has dealt with inconsistent quarterback play throughout his career. Despite that, he has a 1,000-yard season under his belt and had 900 yards last season despite missing some games. Now, he has Dak Prescott as his trigger man and CeeDee Lamb as his running mate. He knows that he could have a career year, setting himself up for a monster contract.
"Oh, it excites me a lot," Pickens said of playing alongside Lamb, according to Shook. "In the game of football, we can work off each other. There's no, 'Oh, he gets the ball, I get the ball' -- we're working off each other. That's why I always come back to, you know, building a winning culture and that's kind of what we've been talking about in Dallas."
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