Blogging The Boys
Assuming he gets one, what do you think George Pickens’ extension with the Cowboys will look like?
The Dallas Cowboys made a major move by trading a 2026 third-round pick to the Pittsburgh Steelers for star wide receiver George Pickens. Dallas also moved their 2027 fifth-round pick in exchange for a 2027 sixth-round pick as part of the deal.
The rationale behind the move was simple: Pickens filled one of the team’s biggest holes from the last few years. Dallas had been lacking a true WR2 behind CeeDee Lamb since they traded Amari Cooper away after the 2021 season.
Since then, no other Cowboys wide receiver has posted 700 receiving yards in a season, limiting the offense behind Lamb. Pickens automatically changes that, providing a young, dynamic outside receiver to pair with Lamb, who has quite the résumé.
Pickens has gone for at least 800 yards in each of his three NFL seasons, combining for 2,140 yards over the last two seasons, despite dealing with subpar quarterback play. He even led the NFL in yards per catch in 2023 with 18.1, cementing his status as a strong deep threat option.
Now, he’s heading into the final year of his rookie deal in 2025, with the hopes of landing a long-term contract with another standout season.
What could that look like for the ascending wideout?
The wide receiver position has continued to grow in recent years, with some major contracts being handed out to the top stars at the position.
I don’t expect Pickens to fall in the top category, given his attitude concerns and inconsistent play at times, but he’s nonetheless still a quality receiver in the league who plays an important position.
When thinking of a baseline, think of Cleveland Browns wideout Jerry Jeudy, who signed a three-year, $52.5 million deal with $41 million guaranteed after being traded last offseason.
Now, Pickens has a better résumé with a 1,000-yard season under his belt, as well as more consistency prior to the extension. But that should be the floor for the Cowboys wideout on a new deal.
Another contract to note is Calvin Ridley’s four-year, $92 million deal in free agency with the Tennessee Titans. Yes, free agency usually boosts a player’s value, but Pickens could be in that situation next offseason as his rookie deal finishes.
Ridley was coming off a 1,000-yard season and had a 1,374-yard season on his rookie deal as well. But, he was suspended for a year, so the contract could make sense to consider with Pickens.
Another one to consider could be Michael Pittman, who had 582-yard, 1,082-yard, and 925-yard seasons under his belt before signing a three-year, $70 million extension with the Indianapolis Colts.
Projecting a new George Pickens’s deal
Pickens will need to continue producing in his fourth year in the NFL, but assuming injuries aren’t a concern, that shouldn’t be a problem. Of course, the attitude problems can also be a valid issue,...
