What would a George Pickens contract be like in 2026?

[Aliencowboy]

With what Pickens has averaged - 4 years 102 million 25.3 per according to Spotrac -

with some Star boost this year 27 mill and 108 mill

Lamb is at 136 million 4 years 34 mill per

61 million at WR
60 at QB
40 at DE

For comparison

Chase 161 mill 4 years
Higgins 115 mill 4 years.

Looks like a good deal for a 1000 yard receiver

 

[IceStar-D7]

Depends on what he does in 2025......

 

[Reality]

At this point there are way too many unknown variables to predict what type of contract offer, if any, the Cowboys will make to Pickens in 2026.

My only hope is they avoid offering him one this season and let him show he deserves one from the Cowboys.

The best strategy Pickens can follow is to come in, accept his WR2 role and focus on playing well and helping the Cowboys win a lot of games.

If he does that then the Cowboys along with plenty of other teams will be lining up to sign him.

 

[Kwyn]

He’s the most purely talented player we’ve traded for since, hell, Charles Haley? Galloway? He’s got more talent than Amari.

As to free agents, you’d probably have to go back to TO.

We complain about Jerry never making a move for big time talent. Well, this is big time talent.

Now we see what happens

 

[big dog cowboy]

Depends on what he does in 2025......

It's really that simple. What he does on and on the field this year (much more than the past) determines what kind of new deal he is look at.

 

[speedkilz88]

If you were willing to give him 4 yr $25 million avg. right now it would be an extension and then with this years $3.656 million it would avg. out under 21 million.

Which is the whole point about not signing their star players early hurts them salary cap wise.

 

[visionary]

At this point there are way too many unknown variables to predict what type of contract offer, if any, the Cowboys will make to Pickens in 2026.

My only hope is they avoid offering him one this season and let him show he deserves one from the Cowboys.

The best strategy Pickens can follow is to come in, accept his WR2 role and focus on playing well and helping the Cowboys win a lot of games.

If he does that then the Cowboys along with plenty of other teams will be lining up to sign him.

He will “try” but it will unravel in the second half if he is not getting the targets

 

[Pass2Run]

He’s the most purely talented player we’ve traded for since, hell, Charles Haley? Galloway? He’s got more talent than Amari.

As to free agents, you’d probably have to go back to TO.

We complain about Jerry never making a move for big time talent. Well, this is big time talent.

Now we see what happens

Exactly.

It's why I wonder where the "move the needle" crowd is.

But, yeah, to me I think you just sign the guy. No risk. You know what you have. Damn good player.

 

[Flamma]

If you were willing to give him 4 yr $25 million avg. right now it would be an extension and then with this years $3.656 million it would avg. out under 21 million.

Which is the whole point about not signing their star players early hurts them salary cap wise.

I cannot stress the point above enough. If he ends up being the WR we want him to be, he's going to want 35M a year. Dallas probably won't pay that. Which makes him a 1 year rental, pretty much invalidating the reason for the trade to begin with.

Cap wise they have to try to sign him this year. If it goes south, it's a lot less painful to back out of a contract averaging 21M a year than it is 35M a year.

 

[Kwyn]

I cannot stress the point above enough. If he ends up being the WR we want him to be, he's going to want 35M a year. Dallas probably won't pay that. Which makes him a 1 year rental, pretty much invalidating the reason for the trade to begin with.

Cap wise they have to try to sign him this year. If it goes south, it's a lot less painful to back out of a contract averaging 21M a year than it is 35M a year.

I’m looking forward to watching football.

The boards fixation on contracts and the cap, of which 95% of them have only the vaguest comprehension, is fuel for endless arguments but is ultimately just a timewaste.

 

[ATXSRT]

I cannot stress the point above enough. If he ends up being the WR we want him to be, he's going to want 35M a year. Dallas probably won't pay that. Which makes him a 1 year rental, pretty much invalidating the reason for the trade to begin with.

Cap wise they have to try to sign him this year. If it goes south, it's a lot less painful to back out of a contract averaging 21M a year than it is 35M a year.

Pickens also would need to want to sign a deal now. Who's to say he doesn't want to gamble on himself having a breakout year with us?

 

[Flamma]

Pickens also would need to want to sign a deal now. Who's to say he doesn't want to gamble on himself having a breakout year with us?

You're absolutely right. We have no idea. In fact, Pickens may have turned down an offer from Pittsburgh forcing them to trade him. Now we have that problem. That's a very real possibility.