The Dallas Cowboys will not have discussions on a long-term contract with wide receiver George Pickens and want him to play this season on his franchise tender, Stephen Jones said Wednesday.
Jones said the team has no assurances as to when or if Pickens will show for the team’s offseason program, which begins next week. Pickens has to sign his tender, worth $27.3 million fully guaranteed, to participate in the program.
Jones, the chief operating officer and executive vice president of player personnel, said the business part of a second large contract at the wide receiver position and the “newness” of Pickens with the Cowboys was a reason they made this decision.
Jones said talks with David Mulugheta, Pickens’ agent, were “super cordial.” Mulugheta also represents Micah Parsons, whom the Cowboys traded last year to the Green Bay Packers after contentious contract negotiations.
Last year, Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones said he and Parsons reached an agreement on a deal that would have made Parsons the highest-paid defensive player in the NFL. When Mulugheta balked at the agreement, talks between the sides cooled and never really rekindled.
Pickens put up career highs in catches (93), yards (1,429) and touchdowns (nine) last season, after the Cowboys acquired him from the Pittsburgh Steelers, while playing every game.
