Report: Cowboys want to lock up Pickens, haven't had extension talks
The Dallas Cowboys want to sign pending free-agent wide receiver George Pickens to a contract extension, sources told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.
However, talks on a deal that would lock Pickens up for the foreseeable future have yet to take place, Rapoport adds.
Pickens is in the final year of a rookie contract and is on pace for the best season of his career after Dallas acquired him from the Pittsburgh Steelers in May. He's currently second in the league in receiving yards with 908, and leads all NFL wideouts in EPA generated, according to SumerSports.
"I'd love to be back," Pickens said this week when asked about his contract situation, according to The Athletic's Jon Machota.
If the two sides cannot agree on a long-term deal, the Cowboys will likely franchise tag Pickens so he can't test free agency, per Rapoport. The projected price for a wide receiver tag for next year is $28 million, and Dallas currently has the least amount of projected cap space in the league, according to Over The Cap. Brandon Aubrey and Javonte Williams are other key Cowboys players who are set to hit the open market.
Another obstacle Dallas could encounter trying to extend Pickens is that he's represented by David Mulugheta of Athletes First, who also represents Micah Parsons. Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones claimed not to know Mulugheta's name during a long and public negotiation process with Parsons before the team ultimately dealt the pass-rusher to Green Bay.
Cincinnati Bengals star Ja'Marr Chase reset the wide receiver market after signing a four-year, $161-million extension last offseason. Dallas currently has the third-highest paid wideout in the league on its cap, CeeDee Lamb, who inked a four-year, $136-million extension in 2024.
The Cowboys are 4-5-1 heading into their Week 12 showdown against the NFC East-leading Philadelphia Eagles.