Jerry Jones eyes record contract for George Pickens — with one major condition

George Pickens delivered the best season of his career in his first year with the Dallas Cowboys. After arriving from the Pittsburgh Steelers via trade, Pickens posted 1,429 receiving yards and nine touchdowns on 93 receptions.

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After posting those career highs across the board, he earned his first Pro Bowl nod and second-team All-Pro honors. Owner Jerry Jones reportedly wanted to offer Pickens the highest wide receiver contract in NFL history.

But one condition can be a big roadblock to reaching that milestone.

George Pickens’ off-field baggage followed him from Pittsburgh to Dallas

George Pickens signed a $27.3 million franchise tag to stay with the Cowboys for 2026. This comes after a strong 2025 season where he became Dak Prescott’s main deep threat. The front office admits his stats deserve a bigger payday, but his history of discipline problems makes them hesitate to offer a long-term deal.

These maturity issues aren’t new. In Pittsburgh, the Alabama native accumulated $90,548 in fines for infractions, including taunting and unauthorized «eye black» messages. So, before trading him, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin publicly warned him to «grow up in a hurry.»

His behavior hasn’t changed much after his move to Dallas. ESPN’s Todd Archer reported that Pickens was fined internally throughout 2025 for being late. Coach Brian Schottenheimer confirmed the receiver still struggles with punctuality.

The most high-profile incident occurred in Nov. 2025, when Pickens and CeeDee Lamb were benched for the opening series against the Las Vegas Raiders. Executive VP Stephen Jones later clarified that while Lamb violated curfew, Pickens was specifically disciplined for missing the team bus on game day.

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Andrew Hawkins confirms Jerry Jones is watching

Despite the drama, the team wants Pickens around long-term. But when the Cowboys can trust him enough to commit to a multi-year contract is a million-dollar question now.

NFL Network analyst Andrew Hawkins framed the condition plainly on NFL Live, saying, «If he goes into this season, plays on the franchise tag, and has a repeat of last year — and I don’t mean on the field, I mean off the field — he will sign the biggest contract for a wide receiver in NFL history. And he would’ve earned it, and answered a lot of questions.»

The current bar is set by Seattle Seahawks’ Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who leads the league with a $42.1 million annual salary. By comparison, Pickens’ $27.3 million paycheck ranks just 15th among wideouts.

Head coach Schottenheimer expects Pickens to stay, noting that the receiver «loves it here» and appreciates the team’s honesty during contract talks. 

So, if Pickens behaves himself and stays out of trouble, he’ll likely become the highest-paid receiver in the league.

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