Cowboys evolving offense around George Pickens despite his unclear future
Despite the unclear future for Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens, the coaching staff is certainly planning on his involvement in the offseason and in the 2026 season for the team.
Speaking at his media availability at the NFL Scouting Combine on Thursday, head coach Brian Schottenheimer said that the offensive staff is already working to evolve its successful offense from his first season as the play-caller into its second iteration in 2026. A big part of that, Schottenheimer said, is Pickens.
“The starting point is going to be moving [Pickens] around,” Schottenheimer said. “He’s a guy that wants to be moved around. He likes it. It challenges him, it keeps him engaged and locked in.”
It’s especially notable considering where Pickens stands from a contract standpoint. He is currently set to hit free agency on March 11, but the Cowboys are “leaning toward” placing the franchise tag on him to retain his services for 2026. However, the franchise tag could trigger the star receiver to not show for offseason activities and hold out for the long-term deal that he seeks.
When asked on Thursday if he expected Pickens to be back long-term, Schottenheimer didn’t have much clarity either.
“I hope,” he said. “I’ve been around George from the time he got here, the time he came in ... I knew this guy is a competitor, and he loves football, so I hope so.”
“This is going to play out the way it’s supposed to play out. [Pickens] loves football, and my relationship with [him] doesn’t change, just like it didn’t change with CeeDee [Lamb] or Dak [Prescott] or those guys who were going through certain things. It’s all part of the process. It’s the business side of it.”
Schottenheimer said he hasn’t spoken with Pickens recently but that he plans to before the franchise tag is applied.
The Cowboys’ front office is expected to meet with Pickens’ representation, led by Trevon Smith and David Mulugheta of Athletes First, this week in Indianapolis to begin conversations about Pickens’ future. However, the Cowboys are content with drawing things out -- even if on-field absences are a possibility.
“It’s just going to take time,” executive vice president Stephen Jones said. “We want Pickens here. We think the world of him. We want him here, love him. And I think he wants to be here, so all of that’s a plus ... I wouldn’t put any timeframe [on a long-term deal getting done]. Once you have the tag, you have the tag, and George is going to be here. That’s where we are.”
In his only season with the Cowboys in 2025, Pickens hauled in 94 receptions for 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns -- leading the team in all categories. If he signs the franchise tag, he will make a salary of roughly $28 million for one season before hopping back into the same situation next offseason. A long-term deal could net him an average annual salary of $30-35 million over the course of multiple seasons.
This story was originally published February 26, 2026 at 2:14 PM.
