If the New York Giants are going to climb back to the top of the NFC East, they'll need a bit of help from their rivals along the way. If there's any piece of assistance Big Blue can count on the Dallas Cowboys for, it's mismanaging contract extensions for star players.
Dallas wide receiver George Pickens enjoyed a breakout season in 2025, his first year with the Cowboys after being traded from the Pittsburgh Steelers. Pickens is set to play on the franchise tag in 2026 after being unable to reach a long-term agreement with Jerry Jones and the Cowboys.
Giants fans have watched Dallas lose star players over contract disputes before. If it happens again, the G-Men will have one less star player to worry about within the division.
Giants have already seen how Cowboys' George Pickens situation will play out
Impending extensions for Cowboys superstars tend to go one of two ways: Either negotiations drag on until the player holds all of the leverage, or the two sides drift so far apart that a trade is the only option for Dallas to recoup some value.
The two most obvious examples in recent years have been quarterback Dak Prescott and Micah Parsons.
Prescott gained more and more leverage throughout negotiations as the Cowboys were left with no option but to give him the money he was asking for. He became the NFL's highest-paid player at the time of his signing, limiting Dallas financially.
Parsons, on the other hand, reached a point of no return in his talks with Jones and the Cowboys' front office. After it became clear that there was no deal to be made, he was traded to the Green Bay Packers.
In either outcome, the Giants benefit. If the Cowboys end up paying Pickens at or near the top of the receiver market, they'll be hamstrung in other areas. If his extension talks become explosive and lead to a mid-season trade, Dallas will have to overcome a major setback in their fight to reach the top of the NFC East.
Call it an affinity for drama or simple mismanagement, Jones tends to drag these situations out. The G-Men have reaped the benefits before, and they could be set to do so again. With a relatively shaky secondary in place, especially at the second cornerback position, New York wouldn't mind seeing Pickens moved outside of the division this season.
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