It's a decision that will loom over the Dallas Cowboys all offseason until something is done about it.
George Pickens is slated for free agency. The Cowboys have to decide how they're going to handle it.
Pickens could be given the franchise tag, which will work out to about $28 million for the 2026 season.
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He could be signed to a long-term extension (which could also be done as a second step after first franchising him).
Or, if the Cowboys are feeling bold, they could let him leave for free agency.
NFL.com's Marc Ross wrote a new article on Saturday that asserts the Cowboys should operate with a bit of caution.
"The big-bodied wideout has earned a major payday, but given the character concerns, it's a buyer-beware situation," Ross writes.
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Pickens put up career highs in 2025 with 93 catches, 1,429 receiving yards and nine touchdowns.
He was everything Dallas wanted as a complementary star WR with CeeDee Lamb. The Cowboys' offense helmed by QB Dak Prescott was proficient, only for the defense to let Dallas down.
The Cowboys mostly got the good side of Pickens, and so they seem pretty incentivized to keep him around.
But his rough ending in Pittsburgh raises the concern at least a bit. His will be a fascinating negotiation to watch for all these competing reasons.
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