George Pickens is attached to the franchise tag. Plenty of time remains for a long-term deal to be negotiated and take its place, but it has long been clear no talks on that front will be ocurring.
Pickens was among the players absent from the opening of spring workouts earlier this month, as noted by Nick Harris of the Fort-Worth Star Telegram. All team activities during this time is of course voluntary, though, so the Cowboys wideout will not be subject to fines for his absence. That would change in the event Pickens were to skip the mandatory portions of the offseason, something which is not anticipated.
During a recent appearance on SportsCenter (h/t Bleacher Report), ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported Pickens is not expected to engage in a holdout during mandatory minicamp next month or training camp this summer. Doing so would lead to the Pro Bowler receiving fines for his absence. Fowler confirmed Pickens’ preference would be to have a long-term deal in place (or at least for the door to be open to negotiating one), which is obviously true of all tagged players. Nevertheless, attendance for the mandatory portion of the offseason would be an encouraging sign.
In recent years, players dissatisfied with their financial situations have opted to engage in a hold-in by being present for mandatory work but not taking part in on-field practices. It will be interesting to see if Pickens considers taking that route. The 25-year-old is on track to collect $27.3MM in 2026 by playing on the franchise tag. That figure represents a substantial raise compared to his rookie contract but falls short of what a number of the league’s highest-paid wideouts average on an annual basis. Nine receivers are currently attached to a deal carrying an AAV of $30MM or more.
Upon arrival in Dallas via trade last year, Pickens and his camp opted to avoid pursuing a long-term pact. That decision made his 2025 production critical, and the former second-rounder enjoyed career-best figures across the board. Expectations remain high for the coming season, one in which the Cowboys could again produce on offense while aiming to make needed defensive improvements. Another healthy campaign from Pickens featuring similar totals to his first Dallas season would result in a second franchise tag or a stronger position to negotiate a massive multiyear agreement.
June 1 marks the beginning of the Cowboys’ OTAs. They will be followed by mandatory minicamp, which will run from June 16-18. Pickens skipping out on those practices would leave him open to financial penalties, but that appears to be a scenario the team does not think will unfold.