George Pickens may well have been the top free agent in the NFL had he reached the open market next month. As expected, though, that will not take place. 
Pickens has long loomed as a franchise tag candidate, and the Cowboys have a history of tagging players to prevent free agent departures. Dallas, to no surprise, will go down that route once again in 2026. Executive vice president Stephen Jones confirmed on Monday (via NFL Network’s Judy Battista) Pickens will be tagged shortly.
“We always want guys here,” Jones added (via Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News). “We’ve franchised players before, obviously we want him here working with the team. It will work itself out in the coming weeks.”
The franchise tag for receivers is projected to cost $28.82MM in 2026, making it the most expensive one-year tender at any position other than quarterback. The Cowboys already have massive deals on the books in the form of Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb, and their offense recently added another increased cost. Running back Javonte Williams secured a raise with his newest Dallas contract, one which should nevertheless leave room for Pickens to be retained.
Acquired via trade last offseason, Pickens elected not to immediately pursue an extension upon arrival. That decision proved to be worthwhile, as the former Steeler set new career highs across the board. Pickens was among the league’s most productive wideouts, racking up 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns on 93 receptions. A premium deep threat, Pickens will only be 25 at the start of the 2026 season. Expectations will thus be high for continued high-end showings on the tag or a long-term Cowboys pact.
Dallas is currently among the teams slated to be over the cap next season. All franchise tags are guaranteed in full, and the one-year cap charge matches their value. That makes a tag more challenging to absorb than a multi-year agreement, even when one is worth a similar (or slightly higher) amount on an annual basis. Pickens has been connected to an asking price of $30MM per year on a new deal, although team and player are not very deep into the negotiating process at this point.
Questions have been raised about whether or not Pickens will report to offseason workouts in the event he is tagged without a subsequent extension agreement. Beyond voluntary work, attendance during mandatory minicamp and training camp during the summer could become a storyline as well depending on how things play out. Dallas’ preference, based on Jones’ comments, remains a pact stretching well beyond 2026. For now, the team will look to buy time by using the tag in advance of next week’s deadline.
Another one that makes sense. It’s understandable to be leery of giving him a huge contract given some of his character concerns, but you certainly can’t let him just walk out the door after that season. If they do lock him up after tagging him, I wouldn’t be surprised to see it look something like the Jameson Williams contract. High 20s per year, only 3 years total.
Why in the world would you agree to that if you’re Pickens? Top 9 WRs are 30 aav, 4-5 years. Franchise tag is 28 only million and 1 year. Pickens is going to be PISSED
I guess I’d ratchet the money numbers up a bit, but let’s remember this is a guy who only cost a 3rd and a 5th a year ago because of widespread concern about his character and body. Those concerns have been there since he entered the league. I know it only takes one team to blow everyone else out of the water, but I have a hard time seeing him getting elite money.
@FTA: “Why in the world would you agree to that if you’re Pickens?”
Do you think there are teams out there clamoring to throw $30 million a year at George Pickens? The guy whose attitude forced him off the STEELERS of all places? @Ooof’s suggestion is as good as it’s going to get for him. Teams understand that Pickens’s production had a lot to do with A) Lamb’s injury elevating Pickens to WR1, and B) Dallas’s offensive scheme. Any team out there giving Pickens a mega deal and expecting him to replicate his performance in Dallas will be sorely disappointed.
“STEELERS of all places?”
The Steelers, for years, have shipped off headcase WRs just in the nick of time. Pickens is an outlier and had a great year with Dallas, and as soon as he gets that big contract, the shenanigans return.
And they’ve also kept plenty of headcase players around for longer than they should have, to a level that few other teams have.
Also it’s quite strange to say that they shipped off Pickens ‘in the nick of time’ when he went out and had a *career year* as soon as they shipped him off for a pile of beans. Seems like they sent him out prematurely. Why? Oh right, his attitude.
You mean like keeping solid guys like Antonio Brown and Joey Porter?
I have faith that Jerry will mess it up!
guess we’ll see how happy he is after seattle resigns JSN for $40+ per .. highly doubt pickens signs any long term that pays him less then top 5
Well. if he doesn’t go into “pout” mode and boycott camp and if he has another top 5 season in ’26, then he’ll get the big contract. Time will tell.
Easy decision
Jones more focused on building fantasy teams instead of playoff teams.
Most predictable move of the off-season.
So what should have they focused on instead? Why exactly wouldn’t you lock up your offensive players from last year’s team while fixing your defense? Should they have just let him go for nothing?
They are currently almost 30 million dollars over the cap. They would have to significantly restructure both Prescott and Lamb to absorb another $28 million owed to Pickens. That’ll leave them little in the way to sign free agents.
Its going to take a lot to overhaul one of the worst defenses in football, not just minor moves and signings.
It just makes letting Micah Parsons walk out the door that much more foolish.
Tag and trade him. At least youll get assets in return.
Cowboys can free up over 100 million,if they choose. They can sign anyone they want.
They will be just be kicking the can down the roadfor later. We all saw how that worked for the Saints.
The Eagles have been doing it for years.
Theoretically, yes. Realistically, no. Its more like “hey lets borrow future money if we need to”
The Eagles do it way differently. The eagles plan to restructure while the cowboys restructure when necessary. Theyre more like a balance the check book instead of a rolling credit line. Their void years are added later while the Eagles have them built in.
The Cowboys got two first rounders and Frank Clark (assets) in return. Oldred has it right. They can easily free up $100MM, and it’s not a mystery how Philly does it.
Of course its not a mystery. As I explained, the Eagles do it differently and much more efficient.
To say they can “easily free up 100 million” is unrealistic. That’s not how they operate. Cap space isn’t free money. It’s accounting. When the Cowboys restructure deals, they convert salary into signing bonus and spread it out. That lowers this year’s hit but bloats future cap numbers and dead money. That’s not ‘freeing up’ $100M — it’s borrowing from tomorrow. They can create cap space — not magically erase costs. Restructuring just pushes money into future years with interest.
And they should tag and trade Pickens for assets.
Just a matter of time before Pickens becomes a cancer on the Cowboys.
And just like that —> it’s “Popcorn Time”!
I have said repeatedly Parsons was a must to keep. Lamb was the guy to trade instead. WRs are easier to get. Guys like Parsons don’t come around often. I’m still upset Giants passed on him in the draft originally.
Couldn’t disagree more. Micah is a great player, but he didn’t elevate the defense to a top 5 unit, whereas Ceedee has. If you can’t justify the ROI to set the market at that specific position by that player making you an elite unit on that side of the ball, then you can’t keep them if they’re becoming an issue off the field.
Why is it that the Steelers are “smart” when they trade a Wr or Rb that causes drama off the field instead of paying them top dollar, but when Dallas does it they don’t know what they’re doing or it’s Jerry being Jerry again???
Micah was a difference maker. He made opposing teams change their game plan, double and (sometimes) triple teaming him. That makes any defense much better. His first three years, Dallas averaged 7th, 5th and 7th in points allowed. He left and bam, 30th. That’s no coincidence.
Hey buckaroo, I’ll bring the butter and salt
Imho- this will escalate to Parsons 2.0