The Dallas Cowboys are navigating a tricky contract decision involving star wide receiver George Pickens. While the player’s performance earned him a franchise tag, the question remains: Will it keep Pickens around? Amid this, sports analyst Mike Tannenbaum warned that a new contract that Pickens desires could directly affect CeeDee Lamb. He believes it could pose a bigger headache for the Cowboys.

“The other problem you have, and this is a tough part about being in the front office,” Mike Tannenbaum said on ESPN’s Get Up. “As soon as you sign George Pickens to any extension guys above $36 million, CeeDee Lamb’s knocking on your door and say, ‘Well, wait a second. I’m at $36 million a year. I need a raise.’ So you may solve one problem and create another.”

Jerry Jones put the $27.3 million franchise tag on Pickens last month following his Pro Bowl season. After moving on from the Pittsburgh Steelers, he delivered his career-best production with 93 receptions for 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns. Teams use these tags to prevent star players from hitting free agency while buying time for working out a long-term contract.

Despite this, head coach Brian Schottenheimer admitted to being clueless about George’s presence at the team’s offseason program. It indicates that Pickens wants more than just a franchise tag before he steps on the field for the 2026 season. But there could be many factors holding the franchise back, including the one Mike Tannenbaum mentioned. Describing the situation as “incredibly difficult,” he revealed how last year’s deal involving Micah Parsons was pretty straightforward.

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It was probably because Dallas didn’t have any other pass rusher of that caliber, and the market for the position was clear. However, the current market for wide receivers has shifted dramatically, with Jaxon Smith-Njigba sitting at the top with a massive four-year, $168.6 million contract. Tannenbaum believes the new $42 million annual benchmark makes Pickens more adamant against settling for less.

He would like to become the highest-paid receiver, especially after his performance. But with Lamb in the mix, the team could try positioning him as a No. 2 option. Mike predicts the Cowboys could offer him $28.7 million per year, a figure closer to what Tee Higgins earns. Pickens wouldn’t want that, and his agent could push negotiations beyond Labor Day. If the amount goes beyond a certain limit, Lamb could also raise a similar demand.

He’s currently on a four-year, $136 million contract, earning an annual average salary of $34 million until 2029. Over the last six seasons with the Cowboys, Lamb has missed the 1000-yard mark only once. He’s been anchoring the wide receiver group for years. His performance and seniority at the position could make it tough for the team to hand Pickens a bigger contract, especially when he’s been around only for a year. Meanwhile, the update comes after Jerry Jones discussed long-term plans for Pickens. 

Jerry Jones discusses Pickens’ future in Dallas

The Cowboys and Pickens have until July 15 to strike a long-term deal. If nothing works out, the wideout will have to play the 2026 season while being on the franchise tag. After Pickens’ 2025 season, Jerry Jones would like to keep him in the team’s long-term plans. In fact, he and Brian Schottenheimer have been vocal about it. At the same time, the general manager admitted to having no active contract talks.

Speaking at the NFL’s annual meeting on Tuesday, he revealed why the team is comfortable letting things play out under the franchise tag for now.

“All of us play under the rules of the collective bargaining agreement,” Jones said. “And the collective bargaining agreement clearly anticipates the franchise tag, and that’s part of what you sign up for in the NFL when you’re playing in the NFL or you’re a team in the NFL. And the franchise tag is there for a purpose. It’s to benefit the process to go ahead and put your team together. We are availing ourselves of it.”

Moreover, if Pickens posts another meaningful season in 2026, the Cowboys could place a franchise tag on him next year as well. That’s likely why Pickens remains hesitant to join the team’s offseason activities. For now, Jones wants to operate under the timeline set by the tag and let the situation play out naturally. He didn’t dive into the team’s strategies to manage the cap effectively.

But he did clarify that the franchise tag will remain an important tool in the team’s approach to managing contracts. He’ll use it to retain top talent in the coming years. If Pickens still wants to play his way, he’ll have to eclipse Lamb’s performance to rise above the competition. After all, it’s one of the major reasons complicating his contract. But even then, it all comes down to what Jones and the front office decide for Pickens.