George Pickens Contract Terms
George Pickens is expected to receive a franchise tag from the Dallas Cowboys worth approximately $27.3 million, according to ESPN's Todd Archer.
Fantasy Football Impact for George Pickens with the Dallas Cowboys
Midway through the 2025 season, a long-term extension felt like a mere formality for George Pickens. He was putting together his best season and becoming a bona fide superstar. But a rocky late-season stretch, paired with lingering maturity concerns from his time in Pittsburgh, appears to have cooled negotiations.
Pickens was drafted 52nd overall by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2022. His production in Pittsburgh was respectable, amassing 800-plus yards in each of his three seasons there. His target share steadily grew each season, topping out at 26.5% in 2024, 14th-most among receivers. However, a late-season hamstring injury suffered in practice forced him to miss three games, ending his season on an underwhelming note. That offseason, the Steelers made some big moves, bringing in Aaron Rodgers and DK Metcalf, and shipping Pickens to Dallas for a 2026 third-round pick, a 2027 fifth-round pick, and a 2027 sixth-round pick.
After the trade, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler quoted a Steelers source, saying, "[Pickens is] a child. The playmaking is breathtaking. You can't take that away from him. He just really struggled with the maturity part. You didn't know what you were going to get day to day." Former Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin told ESPN’s Brook Pryor, "He's just got to grow up, man. This is an emotional game, man. These divisional games are big. He's got a target on his back because he's George. He understands that. But he's got to grow up. He's got to grow up in a hurry." While Pickens' talent and highlights were undeniable, off-the-field issues led to him overstaying his welcome in Pittsburgh.
Almost immediately in Dallas, Pickens looked like a new player. A high-volume passing offense allowed him to push his production to new heights, and he hauled in six touchdowns in his first six games. CeeDee Lamb left Week 3's game early with an ankle injury. Despite returning in Week 7, it took him a few weeks to get fully back up to speed. From Weeks 3 through 12, Pickens went off as the Cowboys' primary receiver. He averaged 6.6 receptions, 106.2 yards, and 0.8 touchdowns per game. His 21.8 fantasy points per game over that stretch ranked second behind only Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Pickens' target share had fallen slightly from the previous season (26.5% to 22.6), but an increase in overall volume allowed him to set career highs in targets, receptions, yards, touchdowns, first downs, and fantasy points.
Towards the end of the season, though, with the Cowboys' playoff hopes slipping away, Pickens' production cooled off. In a primetime game against the Lions, Pickens drew significant criticism for an obvious lack of effort. He jogged through his routes, dropped balls, and was called "uninterested" by Amazon Prime's Richard Sherman in post-game coverage. Pickens was held to under 40 yards in three of the final five games of the season, a mark he had previously cleared in every game since Week 1. That game became a catalyst for fans and media to revive narratives about his time in Pittsburgh, ultimately pushing hopes of a long-term deal further out of reach.
Pickens had a huge season in Dallas, finishing sixth among all receivers in yards and touchdowns in 2025. However, his off-field history has shifted the focus to his late-season flame-out rather than his overall production.
