Overview
- Through two games Pickens has nine catches for 68 yards and two drops, a sharp decline from his 2025 breakout numbers and a small sample that has driven increased scrutiny.
- Coach Brian Schottenheimer and owner Jerry Jones have publicly defended Pickens, with Schottenheimer saying “everything with Pickens will be fine” and Jones predicting Pickens will finish among the league reception leaders.
- Teammates Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb say opponents are regularly double-teaming Pickens, which coaches argue has reduced his big plays while creating opportunities for Lamb and other targets.
- Pickens posted a cryptic Instagram meme this week that drew attention to his mindset even as he told reporters he is focused on team success and believes he has been playing well beyond the stat line.
- Because Pickens is on a roughly $27.3 million franchise tag for 2026 the next several games carry financial stakes: sustained low production could complicate his push for a multi-year, top‑tier receiver deal while a rebound would strengthen his market leverage.