Dak Prescott believes the Dallas Cowboys should not wait too long to lock up George Pickens. With the wide receiver still without a long-term contract, Prescott argued that Pickens’ value could only rise as the NFL’s receiver market continues to grow.

Speaking on the Up and Adams show with Kay Adams, Prescott made his position clear, saying Pickens “should get every dollar that he deserves” and suggesting the Cowboys give it to him sooner rather than later.

“George, you know he loves football,” Prescott said during the Up and Adams show with Kay Adams. “And at the end of the day, it’s not for the money. 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.” 

Prescott believes that the wide receiver market could surge after the 2026 season, with WRs Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Drake London, and Zay Flowers having signed deals already, worth $42.15M, $35.25M, and $35M annually, respectively.

“He just wants to play football,” Prescott said during the Up and Adams show with Kay Adams on August 14. “So, franchise tag or not, it gives him an opportunity to go out there and not only play the game that he loves, but play with a team that has accepted him for who he is and allows him to go be the George that we love.”

Prescott emphasized Pickens’ love for the game and his comfort playing for the Cowboys, believing the wideout’s positive mindset will bring out his best regardless of his contract situation.

Pickens has already given the Cowboys a strong case to invest in him. He posted a career-best 93 receptions for 1,429 receiving yards and nine touchdowns in 2025, earning his first Pro Bowl selection.

“And I think he enjoys being in this environment, being with his teammates, and playing for the Dallas Cowboys,” Prescott said. “So contract or not, you’re going to get the best George.”

For Prescott, the combination of Pickens’ production, mindset, and fit in Dallas makes the case for getting a deal done sooner rather than later. Jerry Jones has also taken notice of the receiver’s approach during training camp.

Jerry Jones praises George Pickens’ Super Bowl-like intensity

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones praised Pickens for his intensity during training camp, highlighting how the wideout competed as though he was playing in the Super Bowl.

“Absolutely [money signs], that term goes with it, with those stars, exclamation points,” Jones said during an interview on Up and Adams show with Kay Adams on August 14.

Jones pointed to a recent practice rep as proof of that mentality.

“We were scrimmaging against the Rams. We had an interception. He was tenacious in trying to strip that ball as though he were in the Super Bowl at the end of practice at that time. So, he’s inspirational,” Jones added.

Prescott’s message was ultimately clear: Pickens’ production and mentality have made him too valuable for the Cowboys to ignore.

With Jones also praising the receiver’s competitive edge, the pressure to eventually find common ground on a long-term deal could continue to grow.