Stephen Jones: Dallas Cowboys ‘certainly’ want George Pickens back in 2026

As the Dallas Cowboys prepare for free agency, George Pickens will be a name to watch. He put together a huge debut season with the franchise in 2025, and Stephen Jones said the Cowboys are “certainly” interested in bringing him back.

Pickens led Dallas with 93 receptions for 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns to earn a Second Team All-Pro selection. He also stepped up in a big way while CeeDee Lamb was out with an injury to become one of Dak Prescott’s top targets.

Pickens also put up those numbers in the final year of his rookie contract, which he signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2022. Now, he’s preparing for free agency, and Jones said the Cowboys would like to have Pickens back in the fold next season.

“We won’t get into any details right now,” Jones said, via DallasCowboys.com’s Tommy Yarrish. “Certainly, we want George to be back here in Dallas, and we’ll certainly go from there.”

Pickens arrived in Dallas this past year via a trade with the Steelers. He put together solid numbers in Pittsburgh, including a huge 2023 season with 1,140 yards and five touchdowns, but broke out in a big way in 2025 with the Cowboys.

With the offseason in full swing and free agency set to begin March 9 with the negotiating period, Pickens’ contract situation will be worth monitoring. To Jones, the standout receiver is sure to be a priority, along with running back Javonte Williams. But the defense will also be an area to address.

“Obviously, there’s guys that we want to keep from last year,” Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones said Tuesday, via the Fort Worth Star-Telegram’s Nick Harris. “Whether it’s George Pickens or it’s Javonte, those are all guys that play into the free agency picture. We’ve got work to do on the defensive side of the ball. Whether that’s through free agency or the draft, there’s a lot of resources there that we can use to make our defense better.”

The Cowboys went 7-9-1 this past season under first-year head coach Brian Schottenheimer. They had one of the league’s top offenses, ranking seventh in the NFL in points scored, and Dak Prescott had the third-most passing yards.

However, Dallas’ 30.1 points per game allowed ranked last in the NFL, which led to a change at defensive coordinator. Matt Eberflus is out and Christian Parker is now in after coming over from the Philadelphia Eagles.