Cowboys WR George Pickens May Demand Trade Amid Contract Dispute: Report

By Megan ArmstrongShareNewsweek is a Trust Project memberSee more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.The Dallas Cowboys placed the non-exclusive franchise tag on star wide receiver George Pickens in late February, allowing him to negotiate with other teams while giving Dallas the right to match any offer.The Cowboys and Pickens have until July 15 to reach a long-term contract, per the NFL's official calendar, but Dallas didn't need that long to come to a decision on Pickens.Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones told reporters last week that the Cowboys would not sign Pickens to a long-term deal and expect the 25-year-old to play on the $27.3 million tag in 2026.Tidy enough, but these are the Dallas Cowboys.You didn't really think that would be that, did you?...Todd Archer, ESPN's Cowboys beat writer, brought it to everyone's attention Monday that Pickens "has not yet signed the franchise tag tender."Furthermore, ESPN's preeminent NFL insider Adam Schefter appeared on "The Pat McAfee Show" and forecast how messy this could get between the Cowboys and Pickens."He wants a long-term contract, or he would like a trade," Schefter said. "They have been very clear that they're not gonna give him a long-term contract. So, now, that leaves them in a position — both sides, I think — that's a little bit unsettled at this current moment."Schefter also said that Pickens did indeed sign the tender, which conflicts with Archer's reporting, so it's unclear whether he has accepted the franchise tag. Either way, Schefter said, "I don't think it's entirely off the table that at some point in time he could be traded."Last Thursday, Stephen Jones addressed the Pickens trade rumors during his press conference at the conclusion of the 2026 NFL Draft's first round."We have no intention of moving George," Jones said, per the team's official website.Last month, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones told reporters that the team has "long-term plans in mind for Pickens." That sounds eerily similar to when Jones told Cowboys fans, "don't lose any sleep over this," during Micah Parsons' contract dispute last August.Dallas traded Parsons, a three-time All-Pro pass rusher, to the Green Bay Packers 26 days later.Of note, Parsons and Pickens share the same agent: David Mulugheta of Athletes First. Jerry Jones and Mulugheta publicly butted heads during Parsons' contentious and, frankly, weird contract negotiation, so that doesn't inspire confidence that things will go swimmingly around Pickens this summer in Dallas.The Pittsburgh Steelers traded Pickens to the Cowboys last May. The 2022 second-round pick out of Georgia immediately formed a formidable duo with All-Pro wide receiver CeeDee Lamb. Pickens led Dallas in catches (93), receiving yards (1,429), and receiving touchdowns (9) last season.Seattle Seahawks star and reigning Offensive Player of the Year Jaxon Smith-Njigba reset the wide receiver market with a four-year, $168.6 million contract extension last month, including $42.15 million per year and over $120 million in guaranteed money (via Schefter). Pickens holds the leverage to ask for top of the market after his sensational career year. It's a lofty price for any team, but especially the Cowboys, who already gave Lamb a four-year, $136 million extension in August 2024.Request Reprint & LicensingSubmit CorrectionView Editorial & AI GuidelinesRelated PodcastsTop StoriesPoliticsKing…

This excerpt is published under fair use for community discussion. Read the full article at Newsweek.