FRISCO, Texas – Through 10 games this season, Cowboys WR George Pickens is second in the NFL in receiving yards (908) and tied for third in receiving touchdowns (7). He has been everything that the Cowboys hoped he would be when they traded for him in the offseason and then some.
Once the 2025 season concludes though, Pickens becomes a free agent. The Cowboys will have to make a decision on whether or not they want to bring him back. Pickens has said in the past he "wouldn't mind" staying in Dallas long term, and added to that sentiment on Thursday.
"I'd love to be back with bro, especially [Lamb and Dak Prescott], all the guys really." Pickens said.
One of the options in front of the Cowboys is the franchise tag, which Pickens would be eligible for this offseason. The projected salary for utilizing the tag on Pickens would be just north of $28 million for Dallas. Would Pickens play on the tag, or will he have to have an extension?
"I'll have to wait probably until that comes. I can't really see in the future, so I'll have to wait until it gets here." Pickens said.
With the contract situation looming, Pickens' teammates on offense have made clear that they'd want him back. Especially fellow WR CeeDee Lamb, who has been his running mate and close friend ever since his arrival in Dallas.
"All that we can control on is what we do, how comfortable we make him, and I mean, have him make an easier pitch as to wanting to be here," Lamb said. "Us as teammates, we understand the situation especially being that we've come from it recently. Some maybe once or twice. That's a conversation that he's got to have with his agent."
"I have the most confidence that we're going to keep him, and I'm sure that he wants to be here with how much fun he's having and everything he's accomplishing on the field. So for us as his teammates, I feel like it's pretty clear: We want GP back."
For his quarterback Dak Prescott, it seems like the conversation will eventually come in the offseason. He hopes that those will get off to a good start with how well everything has gone, and is on board for Pickens continuing to wear a star on his helmet.
"I think that'd be priority in the offseason. Right now, it hasn't come up," Prescott said. "Obviously probably it has maybe joking here and there whether it'd be to George or whether it'd be to Jerry. All positive talks and conversations I would feel would start that the right way, but I'm all in for it."
Earlier this season, Pickens said that the most important thing to him going forward was winning. The 2025 season hasn't gotten off to quite the start he'd want in that category, but he has grown close with his teammates, and that's all he can do as negotiations go on.
"Just staying connected with those guys. That's probably all I can say. Me personally, that's all I can really do, just stay connected with those guys, keep relationships with them." Pickens said.
"Just the camaraderie and the stuff they had going on here before me, it's kind of what I gelled in to. So definitely a good fit here at the Cowboys."
Another aspect that could help the Cowboys in negotiations? Head coach Brian Schottenheimer, who makes a point to build relationships with all of his players, and Pickens is certainly no exception.
"A lot," Pickens said when asked about how close he and Schottenheimer have become. "Me and Schotty, I think we're still getting even closer and closer. We were close before, and I feel like now we're getting even close just as the year goes on… As the year goes, just keeping up with the guys, keeping them more closer and closer. Especially, we lost Marshawn, so that kind of gelled everybody together."
How much does Schottenheimer the coach play into his decision making?
"A lot. Definitely with the type of plays, the play calling, the stuff that he brings to the table, definitely a huge factor." Pickens said.
For now, the focus for Pickens and the Cowboys lies on Sunday when the Philadelphia Eagles come to town and Dallas has the chance to win their first back-to-back games of the season.
