Why Dallas Cowboys Didn’t Want To Extend George Pickens

Stephen Jones made his feelings on Pickens clear earlier this offseason. He’s stated emphatically that Dallas has no plans to trade the star receiver. He’s also said they won’t negotiate a long-term deal.

According to Jones, the primary reasons are the presence of CeeDee Lamb and the lack of experience Pickens has with the franchise. Jones said the team is already paying $34 million per season to Lamb, which makes it hard to justify another massive cap hit at the position.

He also said they only have one year of experience with Pickens, meaning they want to see him replicate his success before entertaining an extension.

Those might be real concerns, but it’s hard not to think there’s another reason Jones and the rest of the front office aren’t ready to commit.

What’s the real reason George Pickens is on the tag?

According to Dan Graziano, that reason is Pickens’ history in the NFL. He says consistency and focus were a problem for him with the Pittsburgh Steelers, making it reasonable for Dallas to wait.

”Pickens' time in Pittsburgh included persistent questions about consistency and focus, and while the Cowboys' 2025 experience with him was positive, it's not unreasonable for them to wait another season before making the kind of commitment his on-field performance deserves on its own,” Graziano wrote.

Graziano also said this is why the Cowboys were able to acquire Pickens without surrendering massive draft capital.

That said, he believes the team could reconsider their stance with Pickens, and perhaps Lamb even, should he again put up gaudy numbers in 2026.