The Dallas Cowboys needed all hands on deck in Week 15 to bounce back after a heartbreaking loss. That was especially the case with wideout George Pickens, who drew plenty of criticism for his apparent lack of effort in the loss to the Detroit Lions.
Instead, the former second-round pick was a no-show in the home loss to the Minnesota Vikings. Pickens had just one catch for 10 yards in the first three quarters and finished the game with three receptions for 33 yards — his lowest total since finishing with 30 in Week 1. Although everybody has a right to have a bad game now and then, there were already some major red flags with him, leaving Pickens' future with the franchise up in the air.
Cowboys Might Have to Rethink Their Plans For George Pickens
Once again, Pickens ran lazy routes and seemed to give up on plays during the loss. His temperamental and volatile nature raised questions when the Cowboys acquired him, given his long list of controversies in his brief time with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Pickens seemed poised to earn a massive payday after this season. He had looked more mature, happier, and eager to stay in Arlington for the long run. It was a match made in heaven, and the Cowboys also seemed thrilled to have him around.
Now, after watching him post back-to-back duds when it matters the most, and with Ryan Flournoy emerging as the team's WR2 in the past couple of games, the Cowboys may not feel all that eager to re-sign the Georgia product.
It's not that Pickens can't have a bad game now and then, but there were already questions about how he'd handle himself once he got paid. He's been a headache even on a rookie contract, so it's hard to believe that's not going to get worse once he makes generational wealth.
Pickens has eight receptions on 15 targets for 70 yards in the past two games. Flournoy, on the other hand, has 13 catches on 18 targets for 155 yards and one touchdown during that span. He'll be cheaper, and letting Pickens walk would save the Cowboys some much-needed money.
For reference, Spotrac is projecting that Pickens will earn $31 million annually on his next contract.
This team is already committed to three defensive linemen making $20-plus million, and that's without mentioning CeeDee Lamb and Dak Prescott's mega-deals. Adding another $30-plus million contract to the mix could send the Cowboys into financial hell, highlighting that money might be better spent fleshing out multiple positions.
Pickens now has three games to prove that he's worth the Cowboys banking up the Brink's truck to his house. If he can't, it's hard to imagine him back in Dallas next season unless it comes at a major discount.