SAN FRANCISCO — The final week of the NFL season is here with Seattle facing New England in Super Bowl LX.
While these teams bask in the glow of trying to win a title, the Cowboys are already involved in the offseason.
Club officials have held preliminary discussions with pending free agent running back Javonte Williams, but talks are on hold until Williams finalizes hiring an agent.
However, the biggest pending free agent on the team, and maybe in the league, is wide receiver George Pickens.
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The Cowboys have not held any contract talks with Pickens’ agent, two people briefed on the situation told The Dallas Morning News.
Not having talks with Pickens at this point isn’t concerning, but after what transpired last offseason, when club officials failed to reach a deal with star pass rusher Micah Parsons, eventually leading to a trade, the thought of getting a deal done sooner rather than later seems prudent.
From the moment the season ended, team officials have expressed a desire to re-sign Pickens.
Last season, Pickens set career highs in catches (93), receiving yards (1,429) and touchdowns (9), which earned him his first Pro Bowl berth.
Quarterback Dak Prescott and receiver CeeDee Lamb expressed a desire for Pickens to return.
After Pickens was acquired last offseason in a trade with Pittsburgh, his representatives were confident that a big season going into a contract year could yield a massive contract.
As it stands, Cincinnati wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase has the largest contract ($161 million) and highest average salary ($40.25) at his position.
Minnesota’s Justin Jefferson has the highest total guaranteed money ($110 million) for a wide receiver.
Three wide receivers get at least $100 million in guaranteed money: Jefferson, Chase and Lamb.
It isn’t known how much Pickens is looking for following the season he produced. After he was traded from Pittsburgh to Dallas last offseason, people close to Pickens were hopeful for a contract worth at least $30 million per season.
But after the season he produced, that average salary figure most likely will rise.
The Cowboys’ front office, mostly general manager Jerry Jones, will be watched closely during contract talks. Last year, Jones, as usual, took the public lead in contract discussions with Parsons, who was entering the final year of his deal.
Behind the scenes, Parsons’ agent David Mulugheta held discussions with other members of the front office. Mulugheta even made a last-ditch attempt to secure a deal for Parsons by calling Jerry Jones and Stephen Jones. When those discussions failed to move negotiations forward, Parsons was traded.
Now the team must deal with Pickens’ agent, Trevon Smith, who works in the same firm, Athletes First, as Mulugheta, the president of team sports.
Mulugheta has a close relationship with Pickens, so it wouldn’t be unusual for him to speak with the Cowboys about a new deal.
If a deal can’t be struck, the club has the option of placing the franchise tag on Pickens starting Feb. 17.
According to Over the Cap, a website that charts NFL salaries, the projected franchise tag for a wide receiver is $28.8 million.
That won’t preclude Pickens’ agent from negotiating a deal. But if talks go into the summer, it’s doubtful Pickens would be in favor of reporting to training camp in late July, or even some parts of the offseason program. When Parsons was undergoing contract talks, coach Brian Schottenheimer asked him to show up for the first day of the offseason program, which Parsons did.
When camp started, Parsons conducted a hold in, showing up to practice but not participating. Parsons ultimately requested a trade, something that was granted a week before the start of the 2025 season.
The Cowboys can avoid any mess with Pickens if contract talks pick up at some point during the offseason.
But first, they have to speak with his agent.
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