After missing half of 2024 with a hamstring injury, Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott made a triumphant return to the field last season, as he threw for 4,552 yards–the second-most in his career–and led the league with 404 completions in 600 attempts. Prescott logged 30 touchdown passes and 10 interceptions. He did so despite missing star receiver CeeDee Lamb for three games, which turned out to not be much of a problem. After all, the Cowboys had George Pickens.
Few players did more to bolster their stock around the NFL than Pickens in 2025, going from a player that Pittsburgh wanted out–and trade away for a third-round pick–to one of the top receivers in the NFL. Pickens’ 1,429 yards were third in the league last year, and fourth all-time in Cowboys single-season history.
Having both Lamb and Pickens on board was a a feast for a quarterback like Prescott, and with Pickens heading into free agency, he is very eager to make sure Pickens stays with the team in 2026. Speaking at the Pro Bowl this week, Prescott vowed to get involved on behalf of Pickens staying in Dallas.
Dak Prescott Wants to Ensure Cowboys Keep George Pickens
Asked by DLLS Cowboys’ Clarence Hill about how the Cowboys offense can continue to roll next season, Prescott started with Pickens and implored owner Jerry Jones to get a deal done.
“The guy out here that doesn’t have a contract,” he said, indicating Pickens. “Whichever way they do it, he’s an important piece of this offense, and an important piece of what we’re trying to do. So, leave it to those guys but obviously, if I need to get involved, I have said it before, I will.
“But confident in Jerry and everybody who makes those decisions to know how much he means to us.”
Prescott has always been something of a diplomat for the Cowboys, a star quarterback who has the respect of his teammates for how he treats them, his coaches for how he communicates, and the front office for his intelligence. The hope is that things won’t go pear-shaped in the Pickens-Cowboys negotiations, but there is some comfort in knowing that Prescott could smooth things over if they do.
Geroge Pickens, CeeDee Lamb Combo Would Be Expensive
The main problem will be price, of course, as the Cowboys saw Pickens play himself into the NFL’s elite at a position that is increasingly expensive. There are only five receivers who are slotted to have more than a $30 million cap hit in 2026 (assuming the Dolphins waive Tyreek Hill) but Pickens will surely join that group.
He is projected for a four-year, $122 million contract by Spotrac. The Cowboys do have the option of slapping the franchise tag on Pickens, which is a one-year, $28 million contract.
The Cowboys have another very expensive receiver, Lamb, who is slated to have a hit of $38 million.
The Cowboys are more than $30 million over the salary cap, but they can restructure contracts to create room for Pickens. Still, it would be unusual for a team to carry receivers as expensive as the Lamb-Pickens duo would be.
Dak Prescott: Cowboys ‘Have Two No. 1s’
Don’t tell that to Prescott, who wants the Cowboys to do what it takes to keep the offense together after Pickens showed his worth.
“It’s a credit to him, it’s a credit to Jerry and the front office going out and making that deal,” Prescott said. “You get a guy like that, you’re just looking for help for CeeDee. … After Game 2 or whatever it was, CeeDee goes down and then this guy really just steps up and comes into his own and shows us how great of a player he can be, and allows us to see we have two No. 1s.
“He’s a blessing for us and that’s the main reason we gotta keep him. He does more than just open it up for CeeDee, he’s a game-changer himself and we’ve got to use that.”
Cowboys’ Dak Prescott Will Intervene in George Pickens Free Agency ‘If I Need To’