As Dallas Cowboys star receiver George Pickens has careened toward free agency throughout the winter here in 2026, one thing that has been consistent is the willingness of quarterback Dak Prescott to speak up on his desire to make sure Pickens remains in the fold. Multiple times in the past two months, Prescott has said he would be willing to intervene n the free-agency process if it helps to ensure that Pickens returns.
But maybe Prescott took things a bit too far this week when he told reporters he is advising Pickens, who was given a franchise tag offer of one year and $28 million last week, to play under that tag contract if a new deal can’t be worked out.
Reporters caught up with Prescott at a fundraiser on Wednesday, and he pointed out that he had played on the franchise tag, back in 2020, and got a record-breaking contract even after breaking his leg that season. “You played last year on a one-year, whatever it was,” Prescott said. “So if you can go one year for $30-whatever-it-is million, it’s the same thing I got when I franchised. hey, go do it. Bet on yourself.”
Dak Prescott: George Pickens ‘Loves Football’
Certainly, there is logic there. Pickens made $3.6 million in the final year of his rookie deal last season with the Cowboys, and the tag would represent an 800% raise. He would play one year on that deal, then hit free agency next season and still be eligible for a major contract.
But Pickens’ market value is more along the lines of four year and $122 million, per Spotrac. After a breakout year, in which he racked up 1,429 yards receiving, that’s where Pickens feels he ought to be. By trying to convince Pickens to accept the franchise tag, play on the tag and–most important–not miss OTAs or any of camp, Prescott is essentially taking up management’s position.
Even the phrase Prescott repeated was one that has been used by Jones and coach Brian Schottenheimer, the implication being that Pickens can’t sit out because he likes football too much: “George loves football. That’s the one thing about it, I just want him to know, don’t change your love for football.”
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Former Bengals Pro Bowl receiver TJ Houshmandzadeh did not like what he heard one bit from the Cowboys star QB, and made that clear in an appearance on “The Speakeasy” podcast Wednesday night.
“I just really wish Dak would have minded his business with this one. I really do, I really wish he would have just minded his business, he said too much,” Houshmandzadeh said. “Normally, does he really get this in-depth with his answers/ Not really. So, now, why you want to really go in depth when it pertains to me? Boy, mind your business. Like you always do, you always say the right things. You can’t say the right things now? Like, come on.”
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Prescott’s motivation is to win a Super Bowl, and any Cowboys fan or observer can appreciate that. Keeping Pickens in line and in top offseason shape is part of that. But for Prescott to publicly take the company line against Pickens–against his teammate’s best interest in a contract negotiation–is a big surprise, and one that could make Pickens look bad in the eyes of fans.
As Houshmandzadeh said, the Cowboys could end a standoff as easily as Pickens with a fair contract offer, so why put the onus on Pickens?
“The Cowboys, if they gave George Pickens $36 million tomorrow, they have a deal tomorrow,” Houshmandzadeh said. “Because George Pickens is a hell of a player, he finally showed what he can do when he got a real team with a real quarterback. … That’s leaving too much money on the table.”
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