For the Cowboys and new receiver George Pickens, there has been much to be excited about here in the early stages of his career in Dallas. Through eight games, Pickens has given the Cowboys the kind of secondary weapon to run alongside CeeDee Lamb that the team has long lacked, and the numbers have been impressive: Pickens has 43 catches for 685 yards and six touchdowns.

Pro Football Focus currently rates Pickens as the No. 5 receiver in the NFL.

The problem, and the reason the Cowboys were able to pluck Pickens from the Steelers for a third-round pick, is that Pickens is heading into free agency. There has been hopeful chatter about the Cowboys locking up Pickens on a long-term extension before he hits the market, chatter that has been amplified by a report from ESPN that the Cowboys have had “internal discussions” about a deal with Pickens, as well as statements from owner Jerry Jones.

“Any and everything about George Pickens has crossed our minds. …” Jones said on Dallas radio. “Certainly he’s a topic of interest and discussions because of the success he’s having.”

Cowboys Not Having Contract Talks With George Pickens

Now, though, is the part of the story in which we forcefully pump the brakes on the idea of Pickens getting a new deal with the Cowboys and keeping the excitement of this offense rolling past this year.

According to team insider Ed Werder of WFAA, there has been no conversation between the Cowboys and Pickens’ people about a long-term extension for the star receiver.

Wrote Werder on Twitter/X: “With a week remaining before the #NFL trade deadline, the #Cowboys have not engaged in contract extension talks with WR George Pickens or his representatives. Pickens is on an expiring contract. Franchise player designation is an option that would cost projected $28M.”

George Pickens Projected for $145 Million Contract

Indeed, the Cowboys could franchise Pickens, which would keep him in Dallas for another year, but that option is not cheap at $28 million. It’s not a long-term commitment, though, and it would allow the Cowboys to keep Pickens in town for another year while the team addresses its many defensive holes.

That would probably not sit well with Pickens, though, who came to Dallas hoping to show he can be a No. 1 receiver when paired with a competent quarterback (those were few and far between in Pittsburgh). He’s done that, and should be in line for a contract that Spotrac projects to be worth five years and $145 million.

Putting him at an injury risk for a season at $28 million would obviously not be Pickens’ top choice.

Cowboys Always Planned to Move On?

Complicating matters, too, is the fact that Pickens is represented by the same agency–Athletes First–that represents Micah Parsons. One of the catalysts for the collapse of the Parsons-Cowboys relationship was owner Jerry Jones’ refusal to go through contract negotiations with the agency, as he instead tried to negotiate with Parsons directly.

If there is a hope for a Cowboys-Pickens contract, it would require Jones and the Athletes First honchos to talk. The Cowboys can have all the “internal discussions” about keeping Pickens that they want, but they’re useless unless they’re talking to Pickens’ people.

When the Cowboys traded for Pickens, it looked as though the plan was for it to be a one-year rental, with the hope of a compensatory draft pick once Pickens left in free agency. Halfway through the season, even as well as Pickens has played, that still appears the most likely outcome.