Cowboys News
The Dallas Cowboys are strongly considering using the franchise tag on wide receiver George Pickens, according to ESPN’s Todd Archer. The move would keep the Pro Bowl receiver in Dallas for at least one more season while both sides work toward a long-term contract extension.
Pickens enjoyed a breakout first season with the Cowboys after arriving via trade from Pittsburgh in May 2025. The 24-year-old caught 93 passes for 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns in 17 games. He ranked third in the NFL in receiving yards and earned his first Pro Bowl selection.
The franchise tag for wide receivers is projected at $28 million for the 2026 season. That figure represents the average of the top five salaries at the position. Teams can apply the franchise tag between February 17 and March 3. Tagged players have until July 15 to sign a long-term extension.
Pickens outproduced teammate CeeDee Lamb across the board in 2025. Lamb caught 75 passes for 1,077 yards and three touchdowns in 14 games. Pickens played in three additional games after Lamb missed time with injuries. Still, Pickens’ per-game production exceeded expectations for a receiver adjusting to a new team.
The Cowboys signed Lamb to a four-year, $136 million extension in August 2024. That deal pays Lamb $34 million annually. Archer speculates that Pickens could command more than Lamb on the open market, given his age and recent performance.
Using the franchise tag would prevent Pickens from reaching free agency in March. The one-year deal would give Dallas time to negotiate a multi-year extension. It would also save the Cowboys approximately $2-6 million compared to Pickens’ expected market value on a long-term deal.
Dallas faces significant salary cap challenges entering the 2026 offseason. The team is currently over the projected cap and will need to restructure contracts to create space. The franchise tag hits the cap immediately, but could be more manageable than a large signing bonus on a long-term deal.
The last time Dallas signed a franchise-tagged player to a long-term extension before the July deadline was 2015. Wide receiver Dez Bryant agreed to a five-year, $70 million deal with $45 million guaranteed just hours before the deadline that year.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has expressed a strong desire to retain Pickens beyond 2025. Jones said he does not envision Pickens playing elsewhere in 2026. Head coach Brian Schottenheimer and quarterback Dak Prescott have both advocated publicly for Pickens’ return.
The Cowboys ranked second in total offense in 2025 at 391.9 yards per game. They finished seventh in scoring at 27.7 points per game. Pickens was a major contributor to that production alongside Lamb in the passing attack.
Dallas went 7-9-1 in 2025 and missed the playoffs. The team ranked 30th in total defense and last in points allowed. Improving the defense will be a priority this offseason. Retaining Pickens via the franchise tag would preserve offensive firepower while allowing Dallas to focus resources elsewhere.
Pickens will turn 25 in March. He finished as the overall WR5 in full-PPR fantasy scoring.