The Dallas Cowboys officially placed the franchise tag on wide receiver George Pickens on Friday, a move that secures his rights through at least the 2026 season. If he were to play on the tag in 2026, Pickens would make just over $28 million. A long-term deal between the two sides is also possible.
“We have nothing but respect and we love George and want him here. It’s real important to us. I think George wants to be here,” Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones told CBS Sports.
Dallas used the non-unique franchise tag on Pickens, allowing him to negotiate with other teams when free agency begins on March 11. If Pickens signs an offer sheet with another team, the Cowboys would have five days to match. If the Cowboys do not match, they would be entitled to draft compensation.
Jones described Pickens as an “elite” receiver and complimented his contributions to what he called some of the “best offense” the team has played. Jones acknowledged that Pickens would prefer to be under a long-term contract rather than play under the restrictions of the franchise tag. The Cowboys plan to “continue to monitor” the contract situation with Pickens, Jones reported.
The Cowboys acquired Pickens, 24, from the Pittsburgh Steelers last offseason. He put together his best NFL season, catching 93 passes for 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns en route to his first Pro Bowl selection.
Pickens reported that he’s searching for the “ultimate best deal” that benefits both parties, but it remains to be seen what that could be. The deadline to sign Pickens to a long-term deal is July 15.
And just because the Cowboys tagged Pickens doesn’t guarantee he will be on the roster in 2026. The Cowboys reportedly view tagging and trading Pickens away as a possibility, according to NFL Media, but the goal is to reach a new multi-year deal.
“I’m talking to George all the time by virtue of my excitement for him,” Cowboys owner Jerry Jones reported earlier this month of Pickens’ future. “He’s better than, as far as what he contributed to our team, showing the potential that he could contribute. I’m looking forward to getting things worked out so George can be a Cowboy [for] a long time.”
