Cowboys' CeeDee Lamb urges Jerry Jones to extend George Pickens

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb believes the team should have enough spending room for fellow wideout George Pickens. 

Pickens is set to play on the franchise tag (one-year, $27.298M contract) in 2026 after the deadline to extend him passed on July 15. The 2022 second-round pick will be eligible for a monster extension in 2027 when he becomes a free agent. Spotrac estimates his market value at four years, $122.42M. It's unclear if the Cowboys are willing to swing that financially. 

Lamb is entering the third year of a four-year, $136M deal in 2026. Investing millions in two players who play the same position may hamper the Cowboys' ability to build a championship-caliber roster. Lamb still thinks they can find a way to make it work. 

CeeDee Lamb requests that owner Jerry Jones pay George Pickens

"I'm sure we can make a way," Lamb told Yahoo Sports' Jori Epstein for a story published Sunday night. "I know it's going to be a little crazy, but I know we can make way for this one. Listen, this is my advocation: '@Jerry, can you please figure out a way? Let's figure it out. I don't care what needs to happen.' 

"'Let's figure it out and it's going to get you a couple more championships.'"

Paying WRs top dollar doesn't always help teams bring home Lombardi Trophies. Last offseason, the Cincinnati Bengals signed WRs Ja'Marr Chase (four years, $161M) and Tee Higgins (four years, $115M) to extensions. The Bengals went 6-11 and missed the playoffs for a third straight season. 

Higgins (846 in 15 games) and Chase (1,412 in 16 games) combined for 2,258 receiving yards. The rest of Cincinnati's offense sputtered due in part to a subpar offensive line that struggled to provide adequate protection for quarterback Joe Burrow, who missed nine games because of turf toe in his left foot. Per Pro Football Reference, the Bengals allowed 64 QB hits last season, No. 6 in the NFL.

Had Cincinnati not paid both WRs, it could've spent more money on its O-line. The Cowboys should consider this before re-signing Pickens, as their O-line is not much better. Dallas surrendered 57 QB hits in 2025, No. 10 in the NFL.

But the Pickens-Lamb duo essentially gives Dallas two No. 1 WRs, allowing head coach Brian Schottenheimer (the team's play-caller) to open up the playbook and create matchup nightmares. Pickens (1,429 in 17 games) and Lamb (1,077 in 14 games) combined for 2,506 receiving yards in 2025. 

"As a coach, you get set in this kind of mode like, 'Here's the issues you're going to see' [but] we're seeing all sorts of different, weird stuff, because people are having to think outside the box," Cowboys offensive coordinator Klayton Adams told Epstein. "[Pickens and Lamb], it's hard to leave them one-on-one."

The WR tandem makes QB Dak Prescott (entering the third year of a four-year, $240M deal) more dangerous. He averaged 267.8 passing yards per game in 2025 (4,552 yards in 17 starts), the fourth-best mark of his 10-year career. Dallas will certainly consider this before deciding whether to pay Pickens.

Shelling out the big bucks for another WR carries some risk for Dallas. However, it'll be worthwhile if it helps the Cowboys offense remain potent, which could make them a regular Super Bowl contender again. Dallas went 7-9-1 in 2025, missing the playoffs for a second consecutive season. 

Pickens recently indicated he's focused on having another big year after earning a 2025 second-team All-Pro nod. If he does, the Cowboys should grant Lamb's request.