If Pickens eventually wants a rewarding contract, what he does in Dallas will be watched closely to see exactly how he conducts himself. I'm reasonably sure he realizes that and might become someone who deserves what he's likely to be offered in the future.
It remains to be seen if he'll do all that's expected of him, whether he's destined to remain with the Cowboys or not. It only serves his cause to put his best foot forward during his stay with Dallas.
He'll surely be watched closely in the year that's about to be fully exposed. If he falters, it certainly won't go unnoticed. If he has a brain in his head, he'll make sure to act accordingly. If not, it will be that much easier to allow him to depart. His conduct will affect his future contracts. I suspect he knows it.