The Dallas Cowboys did not pursue a long-term deal with free agent wide receiver George Pickens, and no other teams showed interest either. This comes as the NFL schedule release approaches.
Key points
Dallas Cowboys did not pursue George Pickens long-term
No other teams showed interest in Pickens
Marshawn Kneeland's death affected the Cowboys community
NFL schedule release is imminent
Cowboys will learn their 2026 schedule this week
Mentioned in this story
Marshawn Kneeland
George PickensDallas Cowboys
With the NFL schedule release now just a day away, a pundit is looking back on the George Pickens saga with an explanation as to why Dallas never pursued a long-term deal with the free agent wide receiver, and why no one else jumped into that fray.
A half year removed from the untimely death of Marshawn Kneeland, his former girlfriend and mother of his child-to-be made a touching post on Instagram, while a former Cowboys quarterback great has passed away.
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens reacts after making a catch over Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Cooper DeJean (33) and Philadelphia Eagles safety Sydney Brown (21) during the game on Nov. 23 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens reacts after making a catch over Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Cooper DeJean (33) and Philadelphia Eagles safety Sydney Brown (21) during the game on Nov. 23 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
And three years after Dallas sent Tom Brady into retirement, he is back to take a shot at Cowboys fans. Here is the day in Dallas.
George Pickens
The big drama of the previous month, the future of receiver George Pickens, has mostly resolved itself with Pickens agreeing to play on a one-year franchise tag that kicks this whole can down the road a year.
Q&A
Why didn't the Dallas Cowboys sign George Pickens long-term?
The Dallas Cowboys chose not to pursue a long-term deal with George Pickens, and the reasons behind this decision have been discussed by pundits.
What happened to George Pickens after leaving the Cowboys?
After leaving the Cowboys, George Pickens remained a free agent, with no other teams expressing interest in signing him long-term.
What is the significance of Marshawn Kneeland's passing for the Cowboys?
Marshawn Kneeland's untimely death has impacted the Cowboys community, as he was a notable figure associated with the team.
When will the Dallas Cowboys learn their 2026 schedule?
The Dallas Cowboys are expected to learn their 2026 schedule this week, coinciding with the NFL schedule release.
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Graziano writes: âThere are a few reasons the Cowboys want to see Pickens do it again before deciding whether to commit long-term money to him. They're already paying wide receiver CeeDee Lamb an average of $34 million per year, and carrying two of the highest-paid receivers in the league would be a salary cap challenge.
âAnother reason, as team president Stephen Jones said a few weeks ago, is that Pickens is still new to Dallas. He doesn't have as much in the bank with them as he would if it had been the team that drafted and developed him.
âThere are explanations for why the Cowboys were able to get a player as talented as Pickens from the Steelers a year ago for only a third-round pick, just as there are explanations for why no team sent him an offer sheet after Dallas tagged him.
âPickens' time in Pittsburgh included persistent questions about consistency and focus, and while the Cowboys' 2025 experience with him was positive, it's not unreasonable for them to wait another season before making the kind of commitment his on-field performance deserves on its own.â
Marshawn Kneeland Cowboys player death
Half a year ago, Cowboys defensive lineman Marshawn Kneeland committed suicide following a chase by police in Frisco.
Dallas later revealed that his girlfriend, Catalina Mancera, is pregnant with his child, and she took to Instagram to post a picture of herself (the child is due in June) with a note.
âWords canât explain how thankful I am for the people God has placed in my life. In such a hard season, the love and support surrounding me has made everything feel a little brighter. Iâm so grateful for everyone who came out to celebrate me and my baby, and even those who couldnât make it but still showed from afar.â
Craig Morton
Former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Craig Morton, the predecessor to Roger Staubach, died Monday at age 83. A fifth overall pick in the 1965 draft out of Cal, he played nine years for coach Tom Landry and led the Cowboys to Super Bowl V, where they eventually lost to the Baltimore Colts and quarterback Johnny Unitas.
Late in his career, he led the Denver Broncos to Super Bowl XII, where they lost to Staubach and the Cowboys. In the process, Morton became the first player to start Super Bowls with two different teams.
Cowboys Eagles Thanksgiving
Though the news isnât considered official yet and wonât be until Thursday nightâs NFL schedule release, Dallas is playing Philadelphia on Thanksgiving Day, the third time the NFC East rivals have met on Thanksgiving.
The news was originally reported by NBCâs Ryan Fowler. Though itâs not official, tickets on secondary markets are already on sale (Dallas is playing someone at home on Thanksgiving and these are being sold as if this is a done deal) starting at $97 for standing room and $231 for a seat.
Tom Brady Dallas Cowboys
Tom Brady, the FOX announcer, Raiders part-owner and former quarterback of some note, appeared on Netflixâs The Roast of Kevin Hart and took some shots at the actor/comedian, who is known as a big Philadelphia Eagles fan. And Brady was able to dig at Dallas Cowboys fans.
âIt looks like we actually have some real Eagles fans here," Brady said during the road. "Not like Kevin, who only shows up at the big games when the Eagles are playing well. You know, Kevin, we actually have a name for those people. They're called Cowboys fans."
Of note, Bradyâs last game was a playoff loss to Dallas, of all people, in 2023 when Brady was with Tampa Bay and driven into retirement.
NFL schedule release day
The NFL is releasing its schedule Thursday night at 6 p.m. on the NFL Network and ESPN2. Dallas already knows it will open against the New York Giants on Sept. 13, âhostingâ Baltimore in Rio de Janeiro on Sept. 27, and host the Philadelphia Eagles on Thanksgiving.
