Brian Schottenheimer Reacts To George Pickens' OTAs Absence

Originally posted on The Spun | By Chris Rosvoglou | Last updated Jun 4, 2026 1:02 PM ET

Is there drama brewing between George Pickens and the Dallas Cowboys?

The Cowboys acquired Pickens from the Pittsburgh Steelers in exchange for a 2026 third-round pick and a 2027 fifth-round pick. He turned out to be worth the investment for "America's Team," hauling in 93 passes for 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns last season.

Pickens received the franchise tag from the Cowboys earlier this offseason, which led to some trade rumors during the NFL Draft. However, he's expected to stay in Dallas and earn $27.298 million this upcoming season.

While the Cowboys expect to have Pickens at their disposal for Week 1, he's not at OTAs this Thursday.

Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer didn't say if Pickens will be at minicamp next week, but he doesn't sound too concerned.

"He’s in a good spot and handling his business," Schottenheimer said, via NFL Network's Jane Slater.

Nov 17, 2025; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens (3) reacts after scoring a touchdown against the Las Vegas Raiders during the first half at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Pickens' price is only going up.

Unfortunately for Jerry Jones and the Cowboys' front office, the wide receiver market has exploded this week.

On Tuesday night, the Atlanta Falcons signed wide receiver Drake London to a four-year, $141 million extension. He's coming off a season where he had 68 catches for 919 yards and seven touchdowns.

Less than 48 hours later, the Green Bay Packers signed Christian Watson to a four-year, $110.5 million extension. This was somewhat surprising considering the talented wideout missed seven games last season due to injury.

If the Cowboys want to keep Pickens around for the long haul, they'll have to be willing to spend top dollar on him.

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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