Cowboys' franchise-tagged WR George Pickens says he will be at training camp, doesn't plan on holding out/in
It had been widely reported that Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens desired a long-term deal this offseason. But, a month and a half after officially signing the franchise tag, Pickens told reporters Tuesday at mandatory minicamp that he’s not disappointed he didn’t receive a long-term contract.
Pickens also said that he doesn’t plan on holding out or in and that he’ll be at training camp later this summer, per The Dallas Morning News’ Joseph Hoyt.
“What’s important to me is winning,” Pickens said, according to The Athletic’s Jon Machota. “Like I said from the beginning, I always wanna bring a Super Bowl to a group of guys that never had that feeling. That’s really the most important part to me.”
Once the 25-year-old Pickens signed the tender, he was guaranteed approximately $27.3 million this season. Although the Cowboys announced in April that they won’t negotiate a long-term deal with Pickens by the NFL’s July 15 deadline for 2026 franchise-tagged players to receive multiyear contracts, Dallas seems open to inking the 2022 second-round pick to an extension down the road — that is, once it has a larger sample size of Pickens’ growth, both on and off the field.
After all, Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones noted at the league’s annual meeting in March that the franchise has “long-term plans” for Pickens.
Even so, the Cowboys and summer contract drama often go hand-in-hand — look no further than the soap opera that resulted in the trade of star pass rusher Micah Parsons last August — so when Pickens missed the voluntary part of Dallas’ offseason program, antennae understandably shot up.
Pickens explained Tuesday, though, that he didn’t attend OTAs because he was following the advice of his agent, Machota reported.
The Georgia product is coming off a breakout season, his first with the Cowboys, who acquired him in trade with the Pittsburgh Steelers last offseason. In his first go-around in Dallas, Pickens piled up 93 receptions, 1,429 receiving yards and 9 receiving touchdowns, all career highs. He ranked eighth in the NFL in receptions and third in receiving yards.
While concerns about Pickens’ maturity lingered, especially after he and five-time Pro Bowl wideout CeeDee Lamb were benched to start Week 11 after missing curfew, Pickens thrived in Dallas’ offense with quarterback Dak Prescott. Pickens earned his first Pro Bowl nod and second-team All-Pro honors. He’s hoping to replicate that success in 2026.
The journey toward a potential sequel really got underway on Tuesday. After working out on his own earlier this offseason, Pickens showed up for the start of Cowboys mandatory minicamp and participated in individual drills at The Star.
Dallas head coach Brian Schottenheimer said he’s “thrilled” to see Pickens at the facility.
“He’s fired up to be back,” Schottenheimer said of Pickens, per Machota.
