Dallas Cowboys COO Stephen Jones stated that it will be a "difficult situation" for the team to pay both CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens at the top of the wide receiver market in the future. The team has managed to work around the financial complexities for the current season, but Jones anticipates a greater challenge if both players continue their high-level performance.
Pickens, who is entering his fifth year, was placed under the franchise tag in February for $27.3 million. He achieved career highs in 2025, with 93 receptions for 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns, leading the Cowboys in all three categories and earning his first Pro Bowl selection. This followed his acquisition from the Pittsburgh Steelers the previous offseason.
Lamb, a four-time Pro Bowler and a 2023 All-Pro, signed a four-year, $136 million contract extension in August 2024. In the 2025 season, Lamb recorded 75 receptions for 1,077 yards and three touchdowns over 14 games, despite missing three due to an ankle injury. From 2021 to 2025, Lamb averaged 99.4 receptions, 1,296.2 receiving yards, and 7.2 touchdowns per year.
The current NFL landscape sees significant financial investment in wide receivers. Jaxon Smith-Njigba recently signed a four-year, $168.6 million extension with the Seattle Seahawks, setting a new benchmark for the highest-paid receiver in NFL history with an average annual value of $42.2 million.
Other teams are also paying multiple top receivers substantial amounts. The Cincinnati Bengals commit approximately $69.1 million annually to Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. Similarly, the Detroit Lions are spending about $56.7 million for Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams.
For the upcoming season, the Cowboys are allocating a combined $61.3 million to Lamb and Pickens. Jones noted that Pickens aims for consecutive strong seasons, which will influence his market value. He also acknowledged that players, including Pickens, expect long-term contracts at some point, creating pressure on the team to find a unique solution at the wide receiver position. The Cowboys are set to begin their 2026 regular season on September 13 on the road against the New York Giants.