Cowboys WR George Pickens promises big year; Stephen Jones confirms no trade calls

For Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens, the 2025 season was a statistical high point. Now the 2026 campaign is about to be a financial one.

The just-turned-25-year-old, who has made a grand total of $8.78 million over his four years in the league, is set to rake in a whopping $27.29 in 2026. That figure- fully guaranteed- represents the going rate for a wide receiver playing on the non-exclusive franchise tag, which the Cowboys placed on Pickens in late February.

The move technically bound the former second-round draft pick to Dallas for the coming season, but it also gave other teams a window of opportunity to come calling with offers to pry him away, after his first Pro Bowl nod and personal high-water marks in catches, receiving yards, and touchdowns.

The price would be high, but so is Pickens's potential in an offense where he's not sharing targets with CeeDee Lamb. A few teams have been mentioned as possible trade partners, and the Cowboys have a reputation for always being open for business. But executive vice president Stephen Jones says the phones have been quiet in regard to Pickens.

"You hate to get into things like that," Jones told Dallas radio station 105.3 The Fan on Tuesday. "But no, we've had no one call with interest in George Pickens."

Whether that's the whole truth or just a wink-wink ploy to stir up eleventh-hour conversations one week before the draft, it puts the focus back on Pickens, who has yet to sign the tag. (And likely won't, as he'd be subject to fines for skipping team activities and workouts as soon as he does.)

If another team wanted to trade for Pickens, it would cost them two first-round draft picks. Pickens has until July 15 to work a longer-term deal.

The Cowboys, likewise, seem to be in no rush to ink Pickens to a long-term extension, even though they could lower their 2026 cap hit by doing so. In fact, some league insiders are suggesting that the team is just expected to do it all over again with a second straight tag for Pickens in 2027.

As for Pickens, a recent video he posted on social media doesn't portray a man who seems terribly concerned about payday.

A slickly-edited montage shows the wideout snorkeling on exotic beaches, boarding private jets, partying at a lush seaside pad, and burying long-distance basketball shots with his boys. The clip also features- perhaps most tellingly of all- a quick shot of a Brinks armored truck.

"Definitely, Year Five gonna be another movie," he promises.

This one is shaping up to be a big-budget blockbuster sequel, with Pickens once again playing the WR1B role in Dallas.

Cowboys fans can only hope it will do better than last year's original.

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This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Cowboys' Stephen Jones: No trade calls on WR George Pickens