The Dallas Cowboys knew when they traded for George Pickens from the Pittsburgh Steelers that they were entering a one-year trial period.
Pickens' contract is up at the end of this season, and if things didn't go well, he could be moved on from easily.
That's not what's going to happen, though.
Pickens enters the final week of the season with 92 catches for 1,420 yards and nine touchdowns.
Now, it's all about whether Dallas signs him to a long-term extension or gives him a franchise tag.
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What are the Cowboys going to do with George Pickens?
At this point, one thing is clear: Dallas isn't going to let Pickens walk away in free agency, according to The Ringer's Austin Gayle.
"He’s our highest-ranked free agent for now, but there’s almost no chance that the Cowboys will let Pickens hit the open market after such a banner year," Gayle writes. "They’ll either get a deal done before the new league year begins in March, or the Cowboys will use the franchise tag on him. Forcing Pickens to play on the franchise tag could be great content if he winds up in a contract battle with Jones."
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The Cowboys hadn't given CeeDee Lamb a true star opposite him at wide receiver until Pickens. And at least as far as the Dallas passing game was concerned, it made for a great season.
The rest of the team, not so much, but that's not Pickens' fault.
At this point, the Cowboys simply can't let Pickens get away.
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