Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens showed up for the mandatory minicamp after skipping all the voluntary workouts this offseason. But as this move is being taken in a positive light by the team, an NFL analyst sees the real reason behind it.

During ESPN's Get Up show on June 16, NFL analysts Mike Greenberg and Mike Tannenbaum suggested that Pickens may be approaching this offseason and the 2026 season as an audition for all 32 NFL teams.

“I don't know this obviously, but maybe someone in George Pickens' world is telling him everything that we do from now until the end of the upcoming season, including this, is an audition for 32 - not 31, 32 NFL teams,” Greenberg said. “You will break the bank if you do everything right."

Greenberg believes that if Pickens shows up in a disciplined and productive manner, he will definitely break the cap structure of whichever team is willing to sign him, which also includes the Cowboys.

Pickens was placed on a franchise tag ($27.3M) in March and will play out the entire 2026 campaign under it.

"Like the tag and all that, it's just football first," Pickens said after the first day of mandatory minicamp, per ESPN. "So, definitely play football first, kind of like I did last year, and then worry about [the contract]...Well, let my agent worry about it really."

The Cowboys have remained firm in their stance of neither trading Pickens nor extending a long-term deal, though they have time until July 15 to negotiate an extension.

Before the tag was placed, Spotrac projected a contract worth $124 million for four years with an average of $31 million per year.

However, the wide receiver market is skyrocketing. For instance, Seattle Seahawks' Jaxon Smith-Njigba signed a massive four-year, $168.6 million extension, averaging $42.15 million annually. If Pickens backs it up with his performance, his price tag could easily reach those same heights.

Mike Tannenbaum acknowledged that Pickens could have had the highest-paid WR contract based on his previous production. Pickens posted 93 receptions, 1,429 receiving yards, and nine touchdowns in 2025, recording his best campaign in the league.

"Just stack one good day on top of the next," Tannenbaum said. "And I'm telling you - the most amount of pressure you could put on a front office is internally, and do the right thing every day, and the money will take care of itself."

While analysts continue to speculate about his next contract, Pickens has made it clear where his priorities lie for the 2026 season.

Why Pickens Never Considered Holding Out

According to Garrett Podell of CBS Sports, Pickens dismissed any holdout talk, crediting quarterback Dak Prescott and WR CeeDee Lamb for building a team-first culture and keeping him focused on winning with the Cowboys.

"No, I'm definitely here now," Pickens said, per Podell of CBS Sports. "Like I said, the group of guys that's with the Cowboys kind of prevents you [from holding out]. If you know guys and are going to guys' house[s], you're talking. I talk to Dak [Prescott]. I'm still throwing with Dak. He's definitely gonna make you not want to hold out."

Though Pickens said that he is not disappointed in not receiving an extension, he revealed that his missing out on OTAs was influenced by his agents' orders.

For now, Pickens remains focused on continuing to prove himself on the field rather than worrying about a future contract. What do you think? Let us know in the comments.

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Written by

Archana Ramakrishnan

Edited by

Shubhi Rathore