Wide receiver George Pickens' breakout campaign gave the Dallas Cowboys every reason to reward him with a long-term contract. However, one NFL insider believes Pickens' reputation prompted the Cowboys to take a cautious approach before making a major financial commitment.

NFL Network’s reporter Jane Slater said in the 200th Episode of the Doin' Alright podcast on July 14 that the Cowboys wanted Pickens to prove it after he got in trouble last season, along with wide receiver CeeDee Lamb.

“I think where they got in trouble last year was the Las Vegas incident,” Jane Slater said during the Doin' Alright podcast. “And I think that was the first time that maybe CeeDee Lamb had gotten himself in a little bit of trouble."

Pickens and Lamb were benched for the opening drive in the game against the Las Vegas Raiders on November 17, as they missed their 10 p.m curfew after dining the night before the game at the Red Rock Casino in Las Vegas.

"And so I think because they didn't have a large enough sample size with George, they said to themselves, 'let's have him prove it. And let's see, you know, CeeDee and George, who comes out the better wide receiver at the end,'" Jane Slater said in the Doin' Alright podcast (YouTube @crownglobalmedia)

K.D. Drummond of Cowboys Wire also believes that the Cowboys were smart in letting Pickens play under the tag for the 2026 season. 

"The pause had the Cowboys do a smart thing, placing the non-exclusive tag on Pickens and having the rest of the league prove to the player and his agent that his reputation was still in play," K.D. Drummond of Cowboys Wire wrote in his article.

Pickens posted career highs in receptions (93), receiving yards (1,429), and touchdowns (9) in the 2025 season, and is set to play under the franchise tag for the 2026 season ($27.3 million).

According to Slater, Pickens' reputation has hurt his chances of getting a long-term deal. However, Drummond believes the Cowboys can keep him for another season by tagging him again and wait to negotiate a new contract.

Analyst believes Cowboys can retain Pickens without a blockbuster deal

Drummond of Cowboys Wire argued that even if the Cowboys franchise-tag Pickens again in 2027, his average annual earnings would still rank outside the NFL's top 20 highest-paid wide receivers.

"Even adding in a second tag in 2027, which would be for 120% or $32.8 million, Pickens would still be far below the current going rate," K.D. Drummond of Cowboys Wire wrote in his article. "$63.7 million across three years is still just a $21.2 million AAV. That's still outside the Top 20 of current wideout averages."

However, Drummond noted that a "rare third franchise tag" in the 2028 season would push Pickens AAV to an estimated $47.2 million, making him the highest-paid wide receiver in the league.

Drummond believes the franchise tag gives the Cowboys maximum flexibility, as the team could keep its options open every year while delaying a long-term commitment.

What are your thoughts on the Cowboys putting Pickens on the franchise tag through this season? Let us know in the comments.

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Written by

Archana Ramakrishnan

Edited by

Soheli Tarafdar