The Dallas Cowboys and George Pickens might not see eye-to-eye on a new contract, but that's not necessarily the end of the world. Pickens has made it clear he wants to stay, and the Cowboys want to keep him around.
Pickens signed his franchise tag tender and showed up for mandatory minicamp. Contrary to what was somewhat expected, he has said and done all the right things, and he hasn't stirred the pot with social media activity and whatnot.
Nevertheless, that's not likely to change the Cowboys' minds about a potential contract extension. According to NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport, they won't give him a new deal right now, though that's not because they don't want to:
"I don't expect a long-term deal for George Pickens this year," Rapoport said on the Pat McAfee Show. "I don't believe that the Dallas Cowboys are gonna trade him, I think they just want to see more in one more year."
The Cowboys will look to sign George Pickens long-term, just not now
Pickens has a bit of a volatile character, but he didn't let that get in the way of his performance in Dallas. He knows he's in for a massive payday if he has another strong season, and he seemingly wants to do things the right way.
Of course, he can argue that the Cowboys are doing him wrong. He would've made much more money with a long-term deal than with the fully guaranteed one-year franchise tag, not to mention he doesn't have any long-term financial security. He's betting on himself, and an injury could take a huge toll on his finances.
That said, it seems like he's found a home in Dallas, and he's willing to take one for the team, knowing they will do right by him when the time comes. That's a huge 'if,' especially given that he's a bit of a wild card, but Jerry Jones usually ends up overpaying for his guys, so he must like his chances.
As things stand now, it doesn't sound like Pickens will hold out or even threaten to do so. This team definitely doesn't need another distraction or another Micah Parsons saga, and this good faith should be rewarded in due time.
If the early returns are an indication of what's to come, there should be no doubt that the Cowboys will want to keep him around for the long run. If they can make the numbers work and he replicates what he did in his first year in the Lone Star State, he'll be a very rich man in 2027.
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