Jerry Jones doesn't mince words on handling George Pickens contract with agent David Mulugheta

Jerry Jones has a reputation for dragging out negotiations with his players. From Dak Prescott to CeeDee Lamb and trading Micah Parsons, Jones has not been one to pay up quickly with his stars. However, the George Pickens situation is unique in that Pickens' rookie deal expires at the end of the 2025 season.

As such, Jones has no choice but to arrive at a decision in short order. That doesn't mean he will use a conventional style of negotiation, however. Jones spoke on 105.3 The Fan about the situation via Dallas Cowboys reporter Jon Machota, who posted the statement on X. Asked about whether he would work with Pickens or his agent, Jones refused to rule out either.

"I don't know. We'll see how it goes," Jones stated. "Probably both."

Looking to predict NFL playoff Scenarios? Try our NFL Playoff Predictor for real-time simulations and stay ahead of the game!

Of course, Jones didn't specify how deep he would be willing to go into the numbers with Pickens and how much he would split the negotiation. Typically, general managers would exclusively work with a player's agent, as the conversation could get heated. The agent serves as the filter between the player and the team, but works on behalf of the player to wring out every cent possible.

Jones' attempt to go around the agent to work directly with George Pickens could carry a substantial risk of burning a bridge or rubbing the receiver the wrong way, setting up more problems later.

Read More: George Pickens contract: Cowboys star WR opens up about his future in Dallas 1 day after Jerry Jones' comment on contract extension

Read More: Richard Sherman questions George Pickens' worthiness of $40,000,000 contract after Cowboys WR's "unacceptable" outing in loss vs. Lions

Exploring George Pickens' current deal and Jerry Jones' options

Jerry Jones at Los Angeles Chargers v Dallas Cowboys - Source: Getty

According to Spotrac, George Pickens is still playing on his first deal that was signed in 2021. The deal was worth $6.7 million, carrying an average salary of $1.6 million per season. It also carried a roughly $2 million signing bonus with $3.1 million guaranteed at signing. As a second-round pick, the receiver is not eligible for a fifth-year option.

This leaves Jerry Jones without much time to drag out negotiations. Pickens, who is coming off the best season of his career with a career-high 92 catches for 1,420 yards and nine touchdowns, has every reason to chase top dollar. The receiver has earned at least 900 yards in each of his three most recent seasons.

As such, Jones can either pay him his asking price, let his contract expire, or hit him with a franchise tag, which would force him to play for Dallas in 2026. The franchise tag would be a significant raise for the receiver, but also risks rubbing him the wrong way. Which route will Jones take with Dak Prescott's new receiver?

Edited by Ian Van Roy