Cowboys Receiver George Pickens Skips Offseason Program

Coach Brian Schottenheimer says Pickens has been training with Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb, but no assurances he'll attend team activities.

Mar. 30, 2026 at 5:20pm

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A fractured, multi-perspective painting depicting a football player in mid-stride, their body and uniform broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric planes in navy blue, silver, and white, capturing the complexity of contract negotiations in a cubist style.A cubist interpretation of a star wide receiver's contract negotiations, deconstructing the player's movements and uniform into a fragmented, geometric composition.Today in Pittsburgh

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens, who is coming off a career year, has not committed to attending the team's offseason program. Coach Brian Schottenheimer said he has been in contact with Pickens but has not pushed him to participate, as the offseason activities are voluntary. Pickens has been spending time training with quarterback Dak Prescott and fellow receiver CeeDee Lamb this offseason.

Why it matters

Pickens is a key part of the Cowboys' high-powered offense, and his absence from the offseason program could impact his chemistry and timing with Prescott and the rest of the offense. The Cowboys placed the franchise tag on Pickens, so his long-term future with the team is still uncertain.

The details

Pickens, 25, led the Cowboys in targets, receptions, receiving yards, and touchdown receptions last season, earning his first Pro Bowl selection. The Cowboys acquired Pickens in a trade with the Pittsburgh Steelers last May, despite some character concerns during his first four seasons in the league. While Pickens has been working out with Prescott and Lamb, Schottenheimer said he hasn't pushed Pickens to attend the team's offseason program, which is voluntary.

  • The Cowboys placed the $27.3 million franchise tag on Pickens last month.
  • The deadline to negotiate a contract extension for Pickens is July 15.

The players

George Pickens

A 25-year-old wide receiver for the Dallas Cowboys who is coming off a career year, earning his first Pro Bowl selection.

Brian Schottenheimer

The head coach of the Dallas Cowboys, who has been in contact with Pickens but has not pushed him to attend the team's offseason program.

Dak Prescott

The starting quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys, who has been working out with Pickens this offseason.

CeeDee Lamb

A wide receiver for the Dallas Cowboys who has been training with Pickens this offseason.

Mike Tomlin

The former head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers, who said Pickens needed to 'grow up' before the Cowboys traded for him.

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What they’re saying

“And I haven't pushed that on him. 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. You know, we'll see where it goes.”

— Brian Schottenheimer, Head Coach, Dallas Cowboys

“He and CeeDee (Lamb) have been taking a lot of trips together. He's training with Dak. Look, GP loves it here. We love GP. We have plans for GP to be here for a long time.”

— Brian Schottenheimer, Head Coach, Dallas Cowboys

What’s next

The Cowboys and Pickens have until July 15 to negotiate a long-term contract extension before the franchise tag deadline.

The takeaway

Pickens' absence from the Cowboys' offseason program highlights the uncertainty around his long-term future with the team, despite his strong performance last season. The Cowboys will need to work to keep their star receiver engaged and committed to the team as they look to build on their success.