6:30pm: The news that Pickens will sign his tag comes after Stephen and Jerry Jones “extended an olive branch” to agent David Mulugheta (per Rapoport). Pickens’ situation was discussed, although it remains to be seen what his future awaits. NFL Network’s Jane Slater adds no trade talks have taken place yet, pointing to no major developments for at least tonight.
5:03pm: The Cowboys will not negotiate a long-term extension with wide receiver George Pickens, but he is now in position to play next season under the franchise tag. Pickens is signing his $27.3MM franchise tender, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
This move could keep Pickens in Dallas in 2026, but it also makes him eligible for a trade. As of April 14, the Cowboys had not received any trade calls for Pickens. Perhaps that will change during or after the draft. If Pickens is still a Cowboy when mandatory minicamp and training camp kick off over the summer, he will be subject to fines if he does not report.
As things stand, Pickens is the first NFLer in line to play under the tag since Bengals receiver Tee Higgins did so in 2024. Higgins went on to score a four-year, $115MM extension with the Bengals in March 2025. Pickens may have angled for a similar payday with the Cowboys this offseason, but executive vice president Stephen Jones shot down the possibility of an extension on Wednesday. If Pickens stays in Dallas, he will become the fifth Cowboy to play under the tag in an eight-year span, joining DeMarcus Lawrence (2018), Dak Prescott (2020), Dalton Schultz (2022) and Tony Pollard (2023).
Pickens was a post-draft addition last year for the Cowboys, who acquired him and a 2027 sixth-round pick from the Steelers for a 2026 third-rounder and a 2027 fifth-rounder. The move worked out beautifully for Dallas, which saw Pickens’ production go from solid to great. After the former second-rounder averaged approximately 16 games, 59 grabs, 947 yards and four touchdowns per year during his three seasons as a Steeler, he hauled in 93 receptions, 1,429 yards and nine TDs over 17 contests in 2025. Pickens ranked top 10 in the league in all three categories.
Barring another post-draft trade, the 25-year-old Pickens should continue forming an elite receiver tandem with CeeDee Lamb in 2026. The Cowboys authorized a four-year, $136MM extension for Lamb in August 2024, but they have not been willing to sign off on a second huge contract at the position. With another excellent season, Pickens could join Lamb among the league’s highest-paid receivers next spring.
Oh o..
The Titanic is about to hit the iceberg!
They need to do a poll here about when this guy will show the first signs of pouting.
He might get traded tonight is my worry..Now that signing the tag the option is there.
Triumphant return to the Steelers 🤔
You would be worried about that? Bring it!
Hopefully this is just to explore whether they can hit the jackpot on a trade. My preference is to keep him, but a windfall might sway me.
They need a windfall. Anything less than a second is a sideways move, honestly.
A trade might be in the works. Stay tuned…
There’s no reason to sign the tag today unless the Cowboys have assured him he will be traded tonight or tomorrow. We will see.
Imho-the trade will probably come after the draft- to those teams who weren’t able to draft a wide receiver in the 1st round