Cowboys Face $30M Decision on George Pickens Amid Defensive Trade Talks

The Dallas Cowboys are facing a significant decision regarding wide receiver George Pickens, who was acquired from the Pittsburgh Steelers and has become a key offensive weapon with 36 catches, 607 yards, and six touchdowns through seven games. Despite Pickens' breakout performance and his importance during CeeDee Lamb's injury absence, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has stated that contract negotiations will only begin after the season, raising concerns about retaining him amid salary cap challenges. The team's defense remains a major weakness, ranking among the worst in yards allowed, and Jones is contemplating trades to bolster the defense before the November 4 trade deadline, which complicates financial flexibility for Pickens' contract. Pickens has expressed a desire to stay with the Cowboys but acknowledges that his decision will heavily depend on the financial terms offered. Internal discussions have compared the Cowboys' cap situation and roster to other teams with multiple high-end receivers, but no extension deal is expected during the season. Overall, the Cowboys must balance investing in their offense by retaining Pickens with addressing critical defensive needs, a choice that will shape the franchise's future competitiveness.