The Dallas Cowboys have one of the best wide receiver duos going into 2026. Between CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens, the two accounted for 2,500 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns last season. But with the latter playing this upcoming season on the franchise tag, it’s hard not to look ahead and wonder how the team will sign Pickens to a long-term deal.
That’s exactly what Jon Gruden said on his YouTube channel while previewing the NFC East for the upcoming season.
“Can the Cowboys keep both of these receivers after this season? I mean, this is 17% of your salary cap space is in these 2 wide receivers,” the former coach highlighted.
Jon Gruden gives his praise to the Cowboys wide receivers:
— Cowboys Lead (@CowboysLead) July 30, 2026
“Heck, if I’m with the Cowboys, I’m saying as long as they’re great, I’m keeping them both.”
“It’s hard to find guys that can do this much damage to a defense.”
(via @BarstoolGruden) pic.twitter.com/LdEL0N6eZF
Dallas faces tough decision on George Pickens’ future
It’s not impossible to carry two large wide receiver contracts while also having an expensive quarterback. The Cincinnati Bengals have set their team up that way between Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, and Joe Burrow for the foreseeable future. But they also haven’t been to the playoffs since 2022.
This offseason, teams have begun moving away from paying two expensive wideouts on the same roster. The Miami Dolphins released Tyreek Hill, then traded Jaylen Waddle in a complete teardown. The Philadelphia Eagles traded away A.J. Brown and are left with only DeVonta Smith. Even the Tampa Bay Buccaneers let Mike Evans walk in free agency while retaining Chris Godwin.
However, the Cowboys have shown indications that they want to keep Pickens around long-term. Jerry Jones said himself that he could be in Dallas for the rest of his career.
If Pickens can prove that last season is the new normal, then there’s no reason why they shouldn’t feel comfortable handing him a long-term extension. Gruden said it's rare to find two dynamic WRs like the ones Dallas has.
"Heck, if I’m with the Cowboys, I’m saying as long as they’re great, I’m keeping them both. It’s hard to find guys that can do this much damage to a defense."
At the end of the day, the Cowboys traded Micah Parsons for more financial flexibility. That’s why they can sign Pickens to a big deal after this season, should he prove his mettle. Will Jerry pay up, and will he turn it into a dramatic media saga as he did with Parsons?
A lot depends on how Pickens performs in 2026. But let’s be honest, Lamb also isn’t getting any younger, and there’s a potential out the Cowboys could pick up on his contract after 2027, when he’ll be 29. If he doesn’t bounce back to the All-Pro talent we know him to be, it would be smart business to lock up the younger receiver in Pickens.
After all, Pickens proved he can carry the load as the main receiver while Lamb was injured last season. In those weeks, he tallied 19 catches for 359 yards and 4 touchdowns. Given that he’s a few years younger than Lamb, he could be the better long-term option after 2026. But simply having both would be amazing.
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