George Pickens' Long-Term Dallas Cowboys Future Could Be In Jeopardy

NFL insider Adam Schefter is raising some serious concerns about George Pickens' long-term future with the Dallas Cowboys.

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens warms up before a game against the Minnesota Vikings at AT&T Stadium. | Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

The Dallas Cowboys placed the franchise tag on breakout star wide receiver George Pickens before the start of the new league year, guaranteeing him approximately $27.3 million for the 2026 NFL season.

Dallas is hoping that the two sides can agree to a long-term deal after Pickens' career year in 2025, but there is no guarantee that a deal will get done.

Pickens is not expected to report without a long-term deal, which means he is unlikely to report to the team until the July 15 deadline for the two sides to agree to a new contract.

If no deal is agreed on, then a game of chicken begins, with a training camp holdout until Pickens inks the franchise tag tender. If he doesn't, he would have to sit out until he signs, or forfeit the guaranteed money.

On Thursday, ESPN's Adam Schefter shared the latest on Pickens' contract situation, and it's a bit concerning for the Dallas faithful. Schefter's comments suggest that a contract standoff could be imminent, which is an all too familiar situation for Cowboys Nation.

"It's early but I'm skeptical that there will be an extension for George Pickens..

He isn't gonna sign that franchise tender without their being a long term deal..

I don't see a long term deal coming into focus until right before the deadline in July" ~ @AdamSchefter #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/7y3td0IseE

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) April 2, 2026

"I'm skeptical that there will be an extension. It's early. It's April 2nd. But George Pickens is not allowed to be in that building unless he signs the franchise tender. He's not going to sign that franchise tender without there being a long-term deal," Schefter said during an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show. "I don't see a long-term deal coming into focus until right before the deadline, which would be the middle of July, which tells you that there's a real probability that George Pickens will not be there for the offseason program.

"Now, if the two sides can figure out a long-term deal that I think is going to be very difficult, then that's great and good for both sides. They both get what they want. But if they can't, and I think it's more likely than not that they won't, now, there's the possibility that we won't see George Pickens, who knows when, in the summer. He could come in a week late, two weeks late, or right before the start of the season. He's under no obligation. He won't be fined for missing camp because he hasn't signed anything. If they don't get a long-term deal done, and he hasn't signed that franchise tender. And so, I just think it's set up right now to be a very tricky, challenging situation for both sides.

Familiar Territy ForJerry Jones, Dallas Cowboys

Jerry Jones on the NFL Honors Red Carpet before Super Bowl LX at Palace of Fine Arts. | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Would it be a Cowboys offseason without contract drama surrounding a star player? Of course not, and unfortunately, it's come to be expected.

In recent years, the Cowboys have seen contract standoffs with star players like Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb, and Micah Parsons. The latter turned out to be the worst, with Parsons getting traded to the Green bay Packers, and it looks like Jones is flirting with another disaster when it comes to Pickens.

"What would be a fair contract for George Pickens? I think the two sides would have different ideas," Schefter added. "He's not going to be there in the offseason program. He's not signing the franchise tender. CeeDee Lamb's [$34 million] average a year. Other wide receivers are getting more. What's the number? It's a tricky deal to do."

Pickens' price tag went up after the Indianapolis Colts overpaid Alec Pierce in free agency. It continued to rise after the Seattle Seahawks and Jaxon Smith-Njigba agreed to a record-setting deal. It's just another example of Jerry Jones dragging his feet and hurting the team.

While the Cowboys may have Pickens in their long-term plans, they need to be active and start negotiating becfore it's too late. Because right now, the team is flirting with another major disaster.

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