Steelers Now
Longtime Cowboys reporter Clarence Hill Jr. of All City DLLS reports that George Pickens isn’t looking for a contract extension from Dallas after getting traded on Wednesday morning. Pickens, who’s heading into the last year of his rookie contract, is betting on himself.
“Per source on the need for a possible contract extension following the trade, new Cowboys WR George Pickens isn’t “looking to do one. Wants to show he’s a top guy this year,” Hill wrote on X.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler also noted that “the Cowboys’ plan is for Pickens to play out his rookie deal.”
The Cowboys will pay Pickens his $3.656 million salary in 2025. His trade will cause the Pittsburgh Steelers to incur a $522,669 dead cap hit.
Per source on the need for a possible contract extension following the trade, new Cowboys WR George Pickens isn’t “looking to do one. Wants to show he’s a top guy this year.”
— Clarence Hill Jr (@clarencehilljr) May 7, 2025
Two days before the NFL,Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones said he was working on “pretty substantive trades” that could happen “before or after the draft.” Obviously, Pickens was one of the substantive trades he was alluding to.
In previous trade conversations surrounding Pickens, the Cowboys offered a fourth-round pick, according to Dianna Russini of The Athletic. A deal was sealed after Jones and co. increased their offer.
Pickens was productive for the Steelers, recording 174 catches for 2,841 yards and 12 touchdowns through the first three years of his NFL career. Talent is not the issue with Pickens. His emotional outbursts and unpredictable behavior were a major thorn in the Steelers’ side, however.
In 2023, he was fined over $200,000 between the NFL and the Steelers for on- and off-the-field incidents, including reported serial tardiness to team practices and meetings.
In 2024, Pickens received over $80,000 in fines from the NFL for his on-field behavior, including unnecessary roughness, unsportsmanlike conduct, two fights after the end of a loss, and a profane message on his eye black. He also got into a sideline spat with fans.
Pickens’s 99.9 receiving grade on deep targets ranked No. 1 in the NFL last season (including postseason), according to Pro Football Focus. His 17 catches for 577 yards on deep targets also ranked first.
It will be interesting to see if Pickens cashes in for a big payday with America’s Team, or if he has a falling out.
Alan Saunders contributed reporting for this story.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: George Pickens Not Focused on New Contract with Cowboys, Wants to Show He’s a ‘Top Guy’
