Cowboys get big George Pickens update at OTAs

The Dallas Cowboys fully expect to have George Pickens on the field come Week 1.

He signed his franchise tag tender and has said all the right things about wanting to stay with Brian Schottenheimer's team for the long run, dating back to last season.

However, he hasn't been present at OTAs, and given his volatile character and the league's history of contract standoffs, there's still a risk that he'll threaten to hold out.

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, that won't be the case for now. That said, Cowboys fans shouldn't get their hopes up about having him join the team for any sort of voluntary workout. 

George Pickens won't participate in voluntary workouts

"With the Cowboys, I would be surprised if George Pickens were in attendance there today. I know he signed his franchise tender, but it’s a voluntary OTA.  He still does not have his long-term deal," Schefter said on "The Pat McAfee Show." "I would be very surprised if he were there. Again, he wants that deal. He wants that deal somewhere, whether it is Dallas, or if they’re willing to trade, nothing has happened."

The insider claimed that unless the Cowboys have a change of heart and give him the deal he's looking for, he's simply not going to be in attendance, at least for voluntary stuff.

"So, I would think that as long as things are voluntary, he is not going to volunteer to be there. He’s just not going to do those things unless he gets the contract he wants, and that will be a recurring issue throughout the offseason," Schefter added.

Pickens is coming off the best season of his career (93 receptions for 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns), and he may have earned that contract extension.

He developed a seamless rapport with Dak Prescott, and a one-two punch of him and CeeDee Lamb would be one of the best in the league again in 2026.

That said, the Cowboys have already committed big bucks to Prescott and Lamb, and they might not have the sort of financial flexibility they'd want before making a long-term commitment to Pickens as well.

Also, he still has a bit of a reputation, and he has to prove that he won't cause trouble in his new home after a somewhat complicated tenure in Pittsburgh.