FRISCO, Texas – When the Cowboys' traded for George Pickens in the offseason, they hoped that his addition to the offense would open things up for CeeDee Lamb, and take Dallas' passing game with Dak Prescott to the next level.
He's gone beyond their expectations during the first six games of the season, with the most receiving touchdowns in the NFL (six) and third-most receiving yards (525) in the league, helping the Cowboys' offense stay explosive in Lamb's absence.
Now, a big question looms for both Pickens and the Cowboys. Pickens is in the final year of his rookie contract, and becomes an unrestricted free agent after this season. Both sides agreed after the trade several months ago that they'd see how things played out, but Pickens' play thus far brings up the question of if the Cowboys should extend him before the end of the year. Would Pickens be open to staying in Dallas long-term?
"I wouldn't mind it," Pickens said. "The guys in the locker room are super cool, the energy's great, but like I said I always want to showcase my talents."
Pickens said that he and Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones have not spoken recently, and that the focus has been more around getting "in the lab" as well as getting his running mate, CeeDee Lamb, back on the practice field. Jones has been effusive in his praise for Pickens on and off the field, and understand the business aspect of how well he's been playing too.
"We'll weigh that," Jones said on Tuesday when asked about extending Pickens. "We knew full well that if things really went like we want them to go, that certainly we need to think about having some room available if we're going to pay a second receiver at that level."
One of the many things that Jones and the Cowboys front office have said since the Micah Parsons trade is that they made the move in order to be able to have flexibility in their cap space to be able to keep, or potentially add, more players. Pickens falls in that category, and could end up being one the players that the Cowboys capitalize on the extra room with.
The other important aspect to consider is that Pickens is likely in no hurry to get a deal done, because his value is only increasing with how well he's preforming. As it stands, his mind is focused on the remaining 11 games ahead with the Cowboys.
"I'm definitely in the middle of the season, so I'm not fully, fully thinking about it," Pickens said. "I just want to keep going and see how far we can get in the season as far as playoffs and stuff like that."
Eventually, the time for contract negotiations will come around, whether it's with the Cowboys or not. What's most important to Pickens when the time does come around for a decision about his future?
"Definitely winning, Pickens said. "Just because that's been my resume the whole time. I won in high school, I won at Georgia, so that's probably, definitely, winning. And I always think about winning."
For now, both Pickens and the Cowboys hope they can get back in the win column after their Week 6 loss to the Panthers, and the next opportunity to do so comes Sunday against the Washington Commanders.
