By admin 
George Pickens is gearing up for his second NFL season with the Dallas Cowboys, looking to help the team get back to the playoffs after finishing 2025 with a 7-9-1 record. And to open the 2026 season, the Cowboys will face Jaxson Dart and NFC East rival New York Giants in Week 1’s edition of “Sunday Night Football.”
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Pickens became a star during his first year in Dallas, recording 93 catches for 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns, all career highs. But with his contract expired entering 2026, the former Pittsburgh Steelers wideout held long-term contract talks with the Cowboys over the offseason, only to sign a franchise tag worth $27.3 million.
And while Pickens still hopes to get the long-term deal with Dallas, the Cowboys have extended another wide receiver.
Ryan Flournoy, after a college career with Southeast Missouri State, was selected by the Cowboys with the No. 216 pick in the sixth round of the 2024 NFL Draft. The wide receiver made 11 appearances during his rookie season in Dallas, showing promise with 10 catches for 102 yards.
But in 2025, Flournoy saw an increased role in Brian Schottenheimer’s offense, tallying 40 catches for 475 yards and four touchdowns in 16 games played. And entering the 2026 NFL season, Flournoy has earned the Cowboys’ WR3 spot, playing alongside Pickens and CeeDee Lamb.
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And ahead of the Giants game, the Cowboys elected to sign Flournoy to a one-year contract extension worth up to $6 million, securing their third-best wide receiver for 2027 if Pickens can’t get a long-term deal done.
“Per @Schultz_Report, the Cowboys are and WR Ryan Flournoy have agreed to a one year contract extension that is worth up to $6 million,” Blogging the Boys’ Brandon Loree wrote on X”The best thing about the #Cowboys getting a deal done now—IF they move on from George Pickens next offseason, they don’t have to worry about losing their WR3 too. Next year’s core is guaranteed to be at least CeeDee Lamb and Ryan Flournoy.”
The best thing about the #Cowboys getting a deal done now—IF they move on from George Pickens next offseason, they don’t have to worry about losing their WR3 too.
Next year’s core is guaranteed to be at least CeeDee Lamb and Ryan Flournoy. https://t.co/QUs9dTpHnY
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— Brandon Loree (@Brandoniswrite) September 11, 2026
The Cowboys will face the Giants on Sunday at 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC.
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This story was originally published September 11, 2026 at 3:03 AM.