Cowboys’ Pickens Attendance at Workouts Uncertain Amid Contract Talks

The Dallas Cowboys face uncertainty regarding wide receiver George Pickens ahead of their upcoming offseason program. Despite placing a franchise tag on the player earlier this offseason, the organization remains unsure if he will report for voluntary workouts. This situation mirrors a contentious period from the previous year involving another star player, creating potential turbulence for the team as they prepare for the 2026 season.

Head coach Brian Schottenheimer addressed the media regarding Pickens’ potential participation while speaking from the NFL meetings in Phoenix on March 30, 2026. Schottenheimer indicated that he does not have assurances regarding the receiver’s attendance. The coach emphasized the voluntary nature of the upcoming sessions and stated he has not pressured the player to attend while contract negotiations remain unresolved.

And I haven’t pushed that on him. I mean, again, we’re all going through the process. It’s almost April. We’re still a couple weeks away. It’s going to play out the way it plays out. Again, it’s all voluntary. We’ll see where it goes.

Brian Schottenheimer via ESPN

The Cowboys utilized a nonexclusive franchise tag on Pickens, valued at $27.3 million according to ESPN reporting. Since applying the tag, the team has not engaged in discussions with Pickens’ representatives regarding a multiyear deal. The nonexclusive designation allows Pickens to negotiate with other teams as a free agent. However, any acquiring team would need to compensate Dallas with two first-round picks or propose another deal that Cowboys owner Jerry Jones would have to sign off on.

Pickens, 25, arrived in Dallas via trade from the Pittsburgh Steelers during the previous offseason. In his first season with the Cowboys, he earned his first Pro Bowl selection. Across 17 games, Pickens set single-season highs in catches, yards, and touchdowns. He also matched his career best in yards per reception, establishing himself as a key component of the offense alongside CeeDee Lamb.

Despite his on-field production, Pickens’ tenure in Dallas has included disciplinary issues. He and Lamb were benched for the start of a game against the Las Vegas Raiders after missing curfew. Later in the season, Pickens drew criticism for failing to give a full effort on several plays during a loss to the Detroit Lions. These incidents echo similar criticisms regarding his effort during his time in Pittsburgh.

During his years with the Steelers, who selected him in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft, Pickens was fined numerous times for unsportsmanlike conduct. He also drew criticism for failing to make a full effort during plays. This history adds complexity to the current contract situation as the Cowboys evaluate his long-term fit within the organization.

Parsons Holdout Comparison

The contract standoff involves an agent who also represents Micah Parsons. Parsons experienced a contentious holdout last year before being traded to the Green Bay Packers the week before the 2025 season began. Schottenheimer dealt with the drama surrounding Parsons during his first year as coach. Parsons showed up for the first two days of the offseason program but did not work out. He attended the mandatory minicamp in June as well as training camp but did not practice before the trade.

Schottenheimer does not appear overly concerned about Pickens’ status for the voluntary workouts. He also avoided looking too far down the road regarding the receiver’s future beyond the current season. The coach’s comments suggest a willingness to let the business process unfold without immediate escalation.

Hey look, GP loves it here. We love GP. We have plans for GP to be here for a long time, so we’ll let the business side of this thing play out and see where it goes.

Brian Schottenheimer

Barring unexpected developments, Pickens is expected to remain with the Cowboys for the 2026 season. However, his participation in the voluntary phase of the offseason program remains unconfirmed. The situation will likely develop further as the team moves closer to the start of training camp in Oxnard, California. Pickens deciding to stay away from training camp would directly cost the offense as he and Dak Prescott would be impacted.