Overview
- Stephen Jones told the DLLS Cowboys podcast on Sept. 2, 2026 that he does not know any team that can easily pay two receivers top‑of‑market money and called the Pickens‑Lamb pairing a “real difficult situation” going forward.
- Dallas placed George Pickens on the 2026 franchise tag rather than signing a long‑term deal so the team can pursue a win‑now season and delay a costly contract decision until after 2026.
- Contract math frames the problem because Pickens will earn about $27.298 million on the tag this year, Lamb is under a reported four‑year, $136 million extension, and recent top deals for receivers have pushed market averages toward $40 million per year.
- While ex‑Cowboy Micah Parsons predicted Pickens could lead the league in catches, yards and TDs this season, that claim is speculative and analysts note the Triple Crown is rare and made harder by having two elite targets on the same team.
- The Cowboys will monitor 2026 performance before acting and could respond with restructures, extensions or roster moves next offseason, a decision that will materially affect Dallas’ salary cap and roster construction.