Can the Cowboys Realistically Re-Sign Their 24-Year-Old Wide Receiver?
When the Cowboys traded for George Pickens this past offseason, everyone was excited to see how he would turn out, but lingering was some doubt. Yes, as talented as Pickens is, character concerns were major when acquiring him. Currently, all concerns about whether he could become a locker room issue or succeed in Dallas have been alleviated, as he is now recognized as one of the top receivers in the league. The Cowboys aim to ensure that Pickens considers Dallas his home, but do they have the money to keep him?
Pickens has made it known that he is open to all options, but staying in Dallas is his top priority. His connection with other star receiver CeeDee Lamb has definitely been helping sway the talented receiver to consider Dallas as his main option. Pickens said in his interview with The Players’ Tribune that at first, he was scoping the scene in Dallas, not really being outspoken. After sharing a few jokes, he began to open up more, surprising some Cowboys players with how relaxed Pickens was. Now, Pickens is considered one of the most likable players on the roster, and his relationship with Dak Prescott displays nothing but that. Pickens and Dallas want to keep the relationship going for as long as they can.
Dallas was anticipating paying a hefty amount for Pickens before they traded for him, expecting a productive season; however, he has exceeded any expectations that were made for him. With him being ranked in the top three in both receiving yards and receiving touchdowns, he has been undoubtedly one of the best receivers in the NFL, if not the best. Given his current performance, Pickens is likely to command one of the highest contracts in the NFL. However, the question remains: can Dallas afford it? Jerry Jones believes they can manage paying another receiver top money by observing how other teams, such as the Eagles and the Bengals, handle their salary cap with star receivers. The Cowboys have a few options for re-signing Pickens. They could choose to offer him a substantial contract that is heavily weighted toward the first two years, allowing them to potentially back out of the deal early if necessary. Or they can either give him the franchise tag in the offseason, which will work but will only further cost them more money and push this problem for another year. The Cowboys believe they can sign Pickens, and Pickens wants to stay in Dallas. It will be far from easy, but Jerry Jones will make sure he can keep a talent like Pickens at home.
