Former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens has exceeded the expectations of Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and could be in line for a second contract, Jones said on Tuesday.
Speaking to reporters after another strong game from Pickens on Saturday, Jones said that not only has the former Steelers receiver exceeded expectations on the field, he’s been a model citizen on the field, as well.
“He is doing more than we did expect or that we could’ve expected, and what’s really special is he’s a real plus to have around the team,” Jones said, via The Athletic. “He’s a real plus to have around his teammates. He’s a great plus around those coaches. And those coaches really think highly of him. So he’s not only doing it on the field, he’s doing it as part of the team concept. That’s very important and in his particular case, should be noted.”
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones on potential contract extension talks with WR George Pickens pic.twitter.com/2VlPoQsHvK
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) October 14, 2025
Pickens had one of the best games of his career on Sunday, catching nine passes for 168 yards and a touchdown in a loss to the Carolina Panthers. On the season, he has 32 catches for 525 yards and an NFL-leading six touchdowns.
When the Steelers traded Pickens to Dallas, he was entering the final season of his rookie deal, which will pay him $3.7 million this season. If he continues his strong season in Dallas, he’s in line to cash in as one of the top wide receivers that could potentially be part of the 2026 free agent class.
Jones said Dallas will have to make room under the salary cap if they want to re-sign Pickens, which would give them to high-paid wide receivers along with CeeDee Lamb, but he seemed open to the idea.
“We knew full well that if things really went like we want them to go that certainly we need to think about having some room available if we’re going to pay a second receiver at that level,” Jones said.
The Steelers, meanwhile, remain in the market to acquire a replacement for Pickens, according to a report by Adam Schefter of ESPN on Monday.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Jerry Jones: George Pickens Exceeding Expectations, Earning 2nd Contract with Cowboys