In his first – and so far only – season with the Dallas Cowboys, George Pickens was at his best statistically across the board.
His 93 receptions, 1,429 receiving yards and nine touchdown catches were all career bests by a considerable margin. Thus, the impending free agent readily admits he’d love to stay with the Cowboys, but insists it’s not entirely up to him.
“I would love to,” Pickens said Monday when asked if he wants to stay with the team long-term, via Tommy Yarrish on the team’s website. “But when you can’t control it, you just hope for the best.”
The best thing for Pickens, coming off his first Pro Bowl appearance, is likely a very lucrative long-term deal with the Cowboys or another Blazer, if Dallas doesn’t tag him.
A 2022 NFL Draft second-round pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Pickens was traded to the Cowboys in the 2025 offseason and received a base salary of $3.65 million in the final year of his rookie contract. Pickens will command up to $20 million per year going forward with a franchise plan to guarantee him $28 million plus.
With fellow Cowboys Pro Bowler CeeDee Lamb, who has a $25 million base salary in 2026, and quarterback Dak Prescott, offensive lineman Tyler Smith, defensive end Kenny Clark and others also with big heads, the Cowboys will have to run the numbers.
What is Pickens looking for? Well, now he’s hoping for the best for everyone involved and saying everything right.
“Just the ultimate best deal when it helps everybody,” he said. “If it’s what’s best for both parties, I’m willing to do anything. But like I said, I can’t control it, so I just let it go.”