George Pickens topped the Cowboys in receiving yards last year, and while Jerry Jones has made it clear he won't be trading him, there's still no sign of a contract extension. One former Cowboy who spent his career negotiating against Jones thinks the club is taking a big risk.
Emmitt Smith raised questions about how Dallas has handled Pickens so far, pointing out that the real issue is whether "Pickens feel[s] like the Cowboys did not do them right this year." If Pickens doesn't believe an extension is coming, Smith said, "I think he'll be gone."
Dallas placed a franchise tag on Pickens worth $27.298 million for 2026, and Jones has made it clear the team isn't looking to move him. Pickens had a strong year in 2025, catching 93 passes for 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns after joining from Pittsburgh in exchange for a future third-round pick.
CeeDee Lamb , meanwhile, is on a four-year deal worth $34 million per season with $100 million guaranteed. It highlights the very different terms under which Dallas is paying their two top receivers.
Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images
Smith isn't just speaking from the outside looking in — he went through a similar situation during his own playing days, even sitting out games during contract talks with Jones.
While he didn't advise Pickens to hold out, telling him instead to "shuffle that energy to your performance," his concerns were clearly aimed at the front office rather than the player.
Pickens hasn't taken part in the voluntary offseason programme, and head coach Brian Schottenheimer said he only expects him at the mandatory minicamp from June 16-18, calling it "just part of the business." The tag locks in his services for 2026, so availability isn't really the concern.
The bigger question is whether a 25-year-old coming off a 1,400-yard season spends the year feeling undervalued and then leaves in free agency.
That would leave Dallas having rented a star for just a third-round pick and one uneasy season. There's still time to sort this out—the two sides have until July 15 to reach a long-term agreement before Pickens plays under the tag.
Read more:
