Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens and running back Javonte Williams were among the top performers on one of the NFL’s most prolific offenses in 2025. With Pickens and Williams now a few weeks from hitting free agency, the team unsurprisingly wants to retain both players.
“Obviously, there’s guys that we want to keep from last year,” executive vice president Stephen Jones said (via Nick Harris of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram). “Whether it’s George Pickens or it’s Javonte [Williams], those are all guys that play into the free agency picture.”
The Cowboys and Pickens’ camp have not met yet this offseason, according to Harris, but Jones revealed the team “has certainly visited with Javonte.”
The Cowboys and Williams are aiming for a multiyear agreement, per Harris. That may be more realistic than a long-term arrangement with Pickens, who will be the No. 1 receiver available if he reaches the open market. After the former Steeler ranked top 10 in the NFL in receptions (93; eighth), yards (1,429; third) and touchdowns (nine; eighth) in his first season as a Cowboy, a contract worth upward of $30MM per year may be in the offing.
The Cowboys, who must address a defense that ranked among the dregs of the league this season, already have a lot of money tied up in wideout CeeDee Lamb. With Lamb making $34MM per annum, the Cowboys may be hesitant or unable to authorize a second mega-contract for a receiver. If a multiyear pact isn’t in the cards in the coming weeks, they’ll have the option of slapping the less expensive franchise tag on Pickens by March 3 (he’ll turn 25 the next day).
While the tag would still be costly (around $28MM), there’s a “strong belief” the Cowboys will take that route, Todd Archer of ESPN writes. That jibes with multiple reports that came out during the season. Tagging Pickens would give the Cowboys the option of keeping him for another year, trading him or signing him to a longer deal by the July 15 deadline.
The tag won’t be on the table for Williams, but the soon-to-be 26-year-old is in far better position than he was when he hit free agency last March.
After Williams rushed for just 513 yards on 3.7 per carry in 2024, his second full season since suffering ACL and LCL tears in 2022, the ex-Bronco inked a one-year, $3MM guarantee with the Cowboys. The move couldn’t have worked out much better for either side. Williams started in all 16 appearances and put up personal bests in carries (252), yards (1,201), YPC (4.8) and touchdowns (13; 11 rushing, two receiving).
On the heels of a career year, Williams is hoping to cash in, Clarence Hill of All City DLLS relays. If Williams doesn’t re-up with the Cowboys before free agency opens March 11, he’ll be part of an unsigned class of running backs that could also include Kenneth Walker, Breece Hall, Travis Etienne, J.K. Dobbins, Rachaad White and ex-Cowboy Rico Dowdle, among others.
Pickens looked like a super-star this year. Might be a franchise tag candidate. Got to believe he is gonna want to set the market. He has the same agent has Micah (Mulgeta) and we all know how that went. Vonte is another discussion. How much is his worth? Value is high rn but there are a boat load of rb’s in this year’s free agency that could push the $$$ right. I’d say 8$ milli 3 years? Rather have him at about 7 for 3 years but really how much is he gonna want?!
Pickens will implode and cause more problems than he is worth. Great athlete……very immature.
I don’t think he any any real problems this year. With age comes maturity. Hopefully it rings true with him.
Pickens only issues were when he was with Tomlin so far. Tomlin permitted his players to be literal children for almost 20 years.
Pickens gets away and bam has a career year and behaves.
Pickens will be tagged, period!
I expect those negotiations to be every bit as contentious as the Parsons ordeal. You can’t convince me the agent doesn’t have some leftover animosity towards Jerry. Jerry and Son will spin their delirious theory about how taking a hometown discount for the honor to don the star on his helmet makes sense but Pickens will not be hearing it. He is going to want to cash in off of his career year. He has earned the right to do so.
While he is going to want to be paid as well, I feel like the vibes surrounding Javonte are more mutual and I feel like something could get done before he reaches free agency.
Pickens on a tag is like a spark to gas fumes. Will be fun to watch for afar.
Nonsense. GP is going from a salary of $3.7.MM to $28MM, a 750% raise. He has no reason to be disgruntled and just like this past year will be out to prove his worth. As a cowboy fan, IT WILL be fun to watch.
Both have definitely earned their paydays but Javonte was such a key part of that offense and has proven to be the player everybody thought he could be coming out of North Carolina.
It would be really stupid to let him get away.
Paying RBs big money is rarely ever worthwhile.
These takes are clueless.
Explain.
I can’t wait to see how Pickens reacts when he’s forced to take 28 on a tag instead of the close to 40 he could get on the market…which Dallas can’t afford.
Cowboys — “Youre just a RB, Javonte; we will have to figure out what to do with Pickens but will sign you first.”
The way pickens pouted, gave up on routes and was utterly disinterested second half? Jerry needs to give him a 10 year 350 million deal.
More like a narrative looking for a fit. He really only had issues in the Detroit game. Yes the Vikings shut him down as well, but that was due to some very good defense (the whole offense never found its balance versus Minnesota).