George Pickens

George Pickens recently signed his franchise tag, confirming the draft-day revelation that he would be doing so well before mandatory practices commenced. A trade has been floated as a possibility in this case, but the Cowboys have publicly stated their intention of keeping Pickens in the fold for 2026.

When speaking to the media over the weekend, head coach Brian Schottenheimer said (via The Athletic’s Jon Machota) Dallas has not engaged in any conversations with Pickens about a trade. That falls in line with EVP Stephen Jones’ remarks at the draft indicating a swap is not being sought out by the Cowboys. Pickens is in line to collect $27.3MM in 2026 while carrying a cap charge of the same amount.

Affording that figure – not to mention the higher cost of a long-term extension – while retaining fellow receiver CeeDee Lamb will be challenging. That factor has led many to believe a trade could receive consideration on Dallas’ part, especially if Pickens displays frustration with his lack of security beyond 2026. Nevertheless, Schottenheimer said (h/t ESPN’s Todd Archer) he was not surprised to see Pickens sign his one-year tender as early as he did. That move obligates Pickens to attend mandatory minicamp in June along with training camp one month later.

July 15 looms as the deadline for franchise tag recipients to sign a long-term deal. In spite of that, the Cowboys have already made it clear they will not negotiate a multiyear contract with Pickens, who was among the league’s top receivers during his debut Dallas season. The 25-year-old will be in line for a major payday (or a second tag) in 2027 if he manages a strong follow-up campaign, although the possibility still remains for a trade to result in an acquiring team authorizing a new deal sooner.

SportsBoom’s Jason La Canfora writes Pickens is indeed displeased with his situation, something which is common among franchise tag recipients. He adds a trade sending the former Steelers draftee out of Dallas is not “an impossibility by any stretch” with plenty of time remaining before any potential swap could take place. A general manager La Canfora spoke with suggested a young player coupled with draft capital could be enough to change the Cowboys’ stance on Pickens.

Dallas expectedly devoted much of the draft toward the defensive side of the ball, and improvement in that regard will be critical in rebounding from the 2025 season. Pickens remains on track to again play a key offensive role for the Cowboys, although his participation in mandatory offseason work will be something to monitor as the summer unfolds.

Shortly before the opening round of the draft, it was learned George Pickens will sign his Cowboys franchise tag. The timing of the news led to speculation a trade could be in the works.

Plenty of time remains for a long-term contract to be worked out between team and player, but the Cowboys stated earlier this week they will not negotiate on that front. Players who receive the franchise tag must sign the one-year tender before they can be traded. A swap involving Pickens is possible as a result, but one should not be expected.

“We have no intention of moving George,” EVP Stephen Jones said (via the team’s website) after the opening round of the draft concluded. “We’re fired up about him signing his [tag], because it means he’s ready to come in here and get to work… We have zero intention of moving [him].”

Pickens signing his tag makes him eligible to take part in offseason work. The 2025 trade acquisition will turn his attention to his follow-up campaign in Dallas, one which will feature major expectations. Pickens was one of the league’s most productive wideouts last season, posting a 93-1,429-9 statline. He will be counted on to pair with CeeDee Lamb once more in 2026, doing so at a cost of $27.3MM. Affording Lamb and Pickens on lucrative long-term deals would be challenging for Dallas, fueling the belief the latter will be playing elsewhere in 2027.

Had the Cowboys drafted a receiver last night, Pickens’ future would have been even more of a talking point. Instead, Dallas wound up with safety Caleb Downs at No. 11 and edge rusher Malachi Lawrence at No. 23. That came as little surprise, with defensive reinforcements long seen as the team’s top priority in the draft. Day 2 or 3 could see WR depth added, but Pickens will be a key figure on offense once more in 2026 provided the Cowboys’ stance does not change.

June 1 will mark the beginning of OTAs for Dallas. That will be followed by mandatory minicamp later in the month. An absence by Pickens for those events would have been possible had he elected not to sign his franchise tag, but his attendance will be expected as he prepares for Year 2 as a Cowboy.

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.

The Cowboys and George Pickens appear motivated to sign a long-term deal. Until the ink is dry on a new contract, trade rumblings will persist. But for what it’s worth, the wide receiver isn’t generating a whole lot of trade interest from suitors.

During an appearance on 105.3 The Fan today, Cowboys co-owner Stephen Jones admitted that the Cowboys haven’t received any inquiries on Pickens’ availability.

“You hate to get into things like that, but no, we’ve had no one call with interest in George Pickens,” Jones said (via The Dallas Morning News).

The Cowboys slapped the wideout with the non-exclusive franchise tag earlier this offseason, meaning Pickens is destined to play the 2026 season on a $27.29MM contract unless an extension can be worked out. We heard last month that the two sides weren’t particularly close to a resolution, and there have since been whispers that the wideout could skip the organization’s offseason workouts.

This is par for the course when it comes to tagged players, and for what it’s worth, there’s not much immediate urgency to agree to an extension. The two sides have until July 15 to come to terms on a new pact, and the Cowboys may simply be prioritizing the draft before pivoting to veteran extensions. If there isn’t any progress over, say, the next few months, perhaps Dallas starts receiving phone calls from some interested teams.

The Cowboys have navigated extension drama before, with Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb, and Ezekiel Elliott eventually signing long-term deals. However, we’ve also seen that the front office is willing to bail in these situations, as the team suddenly moved on from Micah Parsons last offseason.

Pickens’ franchise tag puts him in a somewhat unique position compared to those aforementioned players. Plus, the wideout doesn’t have the same organizational track record as those other four stars. The Cowboys acquired the former Steelers second-round pick last offseason and saw the receiver have his best professional season, finishing with 93 catches for 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns.

Pickens is understandably looking to capitalize on that breakout campaign, and the Cowboys are understandably wary of immediately handing him a long-term pact, especially with Lamb signed to a lucrative contract. For the time being, this low-key standoff isn’t a huge deal, but the situation will surely become more critical if there isn’t progress over the next few months.

The Cowboys kept wide receiver George Pickens in the fold for 2026 with the $27.3MM franchise tag. A multiyear agreement may come together in the next few months, but no progress has been made on that front. It is now in question whether Pickens will participate in the Cowboys’ offseason program, Todd Archer of ESPN relays.

The Cowboys are set to begin workouts on April 20, but head coach Brian Schottenheimer noted those are “voluntary.” Mandatory OTAs are scheduled for mid-June, while training camp will commence in late July. By the time camp opens, the July 15 deadline for Pickens to ink a multiyear deal will have passed. If the 25-year-old is still without a contract at that point, his choices would be to sign the franchise tender or sit out.

As Archer notes, the Cowboys are no strangers to recent contract-related drama. They engaged in a much-publicized standoff with outside linebacker Micah Parsons last summer. Parsons was in attendance for the first two days of the voluntary program, but he did not work out. While Parsons showed up for mandatory OTAs and camp, he was not a participant in practice. A week before the regular season started, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones ended the battle when he traded Parsons to the Packers for two first-round picks and defensive tackle Kenny Clark.

Late in the Parsons saga, Jones accused agent David Mulugheta of obstructing negotiations. It’s worth pointing out that Mulugheta also represents Pickens. Jones is once again expected to play a key role in talks regarding a potential Pickens deal, though Schottenheimer seems confident the two sides will find common ground in this case.

“Hey look, GP loves it here. We love GP,” Schottenheimer said. “We have plans for GP to be here for a long time, so we’ll let the business side of this thing play out and see where it goes.”

Acquired from the Steelers last May, Pickens put himself in position for a massive raise with a career-best showing in 2025. After averaging around 59 catches, 947 yards and four touchdowns per season in Pittsburgh, Pickens began his Dallas tenure with a 93-reception, 1,429-yard, nine-touchdown outburst. The four-year veteran ranked top eight in the NFL in all three categories. It bodes well for Pickens that the salary cap has increased substantially since then, though it is anyone’s guess if he and the Cowboys will see eye to eye during negotiations.