George Pickens Responds to Jerry Jones Saying WR Could Retire with Cowboys amid Contract Rumors

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens is thrilled about the possibility of staying with the team for the rest of his career after owner Jerry Jones made glowing remarks about the wideout.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Pickens said he was "super excited" about Jones suggesting a long-term partnership was in his future.

Pickens has signed a $27.3 million franchise tag that keeps him with Dallas for the 2026 season.

"He's a valued part of our aspirations and our potential success," Jones said Tuesday, per Machota. "The combination that he has with the other talent on the team, I think will make you feel pretty positive about what we've got a chance to do.

"I hope that he comes out here and is the most prolific, successful receiver in the NFL this year. And how would you like to be a free agent and with his credentials and step out there and have a year like that? I wish all of that because if that happens, that (would be) good for us."

"This can be a very win-win thing that we've done here, us and George being on the team. Make no mistake about it, George could be a Cowboy for the rest of his career and that'd be a long time. Make no mistake about it. This (franchise tag) just fit for us and thank goodness it fit for him and we got it done."

The Pittsburgh Steelers selected Pickens with a third-round pick in the 2022 NFL draft. He played his first four seasons for the Steelers before they traded him to the Cowboys for a package that notably had a third-round pick going back to Pittsburgh.

Pickens has flourished in Dallas, catching 93 passes for 1,429 yards and nine receiving touchdowns, leading the team in all three categories. His presence helped Dallas averaged 27.7 points per game, seventh in the league.

Pickens has clearly developed a great rapport with quarterback Dak Prescott, and those two plus wide receiver CeeDee Lamb form one of the NFL's best pass-attack trios.

For now, Pickens and the Cowboys continue training camp in Oxnard, California, with hopes of improving upon last year's 7-9-1 mark. Week 1 is set for Sunday, Sept. 13 at the New York Giants.