George Pickens may be under the franchise tag, but that hasn't stopped the rumors from flying. With the Cowboys reportedly shutting the door on a long-term extension for now, questions about his future are heating up. Is it a temporary stance or a permanent one? NFL insider Ian Rapoport has the answer.

“I do not expect a long-term deal this year. If he plays well and does everything he did last season, I think next offseason he'll be able to cash in and become one of the highest-paid receivers in the NFL,” said the insider in his conversation with The Pat McAfee Show.

While Rapoport is fully confident that Pickens has the talent to "cash in" down the road, his skepticism rests entirely on whether Dallas' front office believes Pickens can replicate that elite production consistently.

Last year, George Pickens posted career highs with 93 receptions and 1,426 receiving yards. However, instead of offering him a long-term deal, the Cowboys placed a franchise tag on him worth $27.3 million.

Even if those numbers dip slightly, it likely won't hurt his value. If Pickens settles into the 80-catch, 1,100-yard range, he could still command a contract worth more than $30 million per year. According to Spotrac’s market value projection, Pickens has a value of $30.6 million per year, or $122 million for four years.

So, is a trade on the cards for him? According to Rapoport, the Cowboys might not be too inclined to trade their biggest star.

“I don't believe they're going to trade him. I think they just wanted to see a little more from him for one more year,” Rapoport concluded.

While the contract situation continues to deepen, veteran sports analyst Stephen A. Smith has come forward to criticize the Cowboys' front office while supporting Pickens in his pursuit of a new deal.

Stephen A. Smith Says One Injury Could Cost Pickens Millions

While speaking on ESPN’s ‘First Take,’ Smith made it clear that he believes Pickens has earned the right to be paid and receive a long-term contract

“I respect George Pickens. I want him to get his money, and he deserves it. I find it very difficult, close to impossible, to believe that you're going to be out on that football field, and you're not going to be worried about getting hurt,” said Smith

Smith might be right in his assessment, as Pickens’ future in Dallas remains possible to ignore. A standout season could send his market value soaring; however, an injury could shift the equation downwards. Smith believes that Pickens should make every decision carefully.

For now, Pickens told reporters he is trying to keep the contractual situation as far away from him as possible, as he wants to focus on his game.

“It’s just football first,” Pickens said. “Kind of like I did last year, and then worry about that. Let my agent worry about it.”

That said, what are your thoughts about the George Pickens situation?

You can read more at the Dallas Cowboys Community!

Written by

Suryakant Das

Edited by

Zaid Quraishi