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Cowboys WR Duo: Salary Cap Crisis Looms
4 Sep
Summary
- Keeping Lamb and Pickens long-term poses a significant financial challenge.
- Lamb's extension averages $34 million annually, ranking sixth at the position.
- Pickens played on a $27.3 million franchise tag after a career-best season.
Dallas Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones has expressed concerns about the team's ability to keep both CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens on long-term, top-market contracts beyond the 2026 season. Jones stated that it's rare for teams to afford two top-tier receivers at maximum value, making the situation challenging.
Lamb recently signed a four-year extension worth $136 million, with an average annual value of $34 million, placing him sixth among wide receivers. Meanwhile, Pickens played the current season under a one-year, $27.3 million franchise tag after achieving a career-high in catches, yards, and touchdowns.
Jones anticipates that another strong performance from Pickens this season will further increase his market value, intensifying the pressure on the Cowboys to find a unique solution for their wide receiver compensation. While some teams have managed to retain multiple high-earning receivers, Pickens' potential performance could position him for a contract exceeding that of players like Tee Higgins or DeVonta Smith, creating a complex financial puzzle for Dallas.
