FRISCO, Texas — The Dallas Cowboys have decided not to negotiate a long-term contract with star wide receiver George Pickens. He will remain under the franchise tag for the 2026 season.
Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones shared that news during Dallas’ annual pre-draft news conference on Wednesday at The Star.
“We’ve made a decision that we’re going to have George play under the franchise tag, which won’t be a first for us,” Jones said. “So there won’t be negotiations on a long-term deal. But that’s certainly not a first for this organization and certainly won’t be a first in the league in terms of this decision as we move forward. Whether it’s Dak Prescott, who played under one and got tagged a second time, whether it’s (DeMarcus Lawrence), whether it’s Tony Pollard, we’ve certainly had those situations.
“We’re so fired up to have George on this football team. Obviously, he’s been here for a year. We gave up a third-round pick for him and certainly he’s made tremendous progress in the year he’s been here. I think he’d be the first to tell you this is a great situation for him, playing with CeeDee (Lamb) and Dak and in coach (Brian) Schottenheimer’s offense. He loves coach Schottenheimer and what he brings to the table. But certainly a conscious decision that we’ve made.”
Jones shared this news about five minutes after the news conference was interrupted by a visit from President Bill Clinton.
President Bill Clinton showed up at the Dallas Cowboys pre-draft news conference pic.twitter.com/YpCXhX4O3L
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) April 22, 2026
Pickens, who has not yet signed his franchise tag tender, met with Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and Schottenheimer recently and had what Schottenheimer called a “good” visit.
“It was good,” Schottenheimer said. “The thing that George knows about Jerry and myself is we’re very upfront and we’re honest. We had a great conversation. We informed him. We think that’s important because that’s the way we handle all of our players and coaches.”
Jerry Jones and Stephen Jones had a call with Pickens’ agent, David Mulugheta, last week to share their decision.
“It went real well, super cordial,” Stephen Jones said. “Obviously, he can speak to it as well in terms of what his view of it was, but it was very cordial. The call went on for 5-10 minutes, and it was very productive, I thought.”
Stephen Jones said there have been no assurances given that Pickens will take part in their offseason program.
“I look forward to him kicking ass this year,” Schottenheimer said. “He loves it here. … I expect that he’ll be around. I really do. The one thing that I love about George is George likes honesty and that’s who we are. That’s not just because his name is George Pickens and he’s a great player. We do that to undrafted free agents and that gives you the best chance to make sure you’re all on the same page.”
Pickens, 25, is coming off a career year in which he was named to his first Pro Bowl and was second-team All-Pro. He led Dallas’ offense, which was one of the NFL’s best, in targets (137), receptions (93), receiving yards (1,429) and touchdown receptions (9).
Pickens and five-time Pro Bowler Lamb showed last season how dangerous they could be playing together, giving Dallas two No. 1 wide receivers. If Pickens doesn’t attend the offseason program, the plan is for him to get in work with Dak Prescott away from the team facility.
Without a long-term deal, Pickens could also choose to skip all of training camp.
“We won’t let it,” Schottenheimer said when asked about Pickens’ absence potentially hindering what they’re trying to do on offense. “Dak Prescott won’t let it. Dak Prescott and the leadership of all these guys, including George. They want to be great. They know our goals. They know where we’re going. The work will get done.”
The Cowboys acquired Pickens last May by sending a third- and a fifth-round pick to the Pittsburgh Steelers in exchange for Pickens and a sixth-round pick. Pittsburgh had been looking to trade Pickens, a second-round pick in 2022, because of character concerns during his first four years in the league. Former Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said five months before the trade that Pickens needed to “grow up.”
Although he was late to meetings at times and missed curfew before Dallas’ game at Las Vegas in November, the public comments from teammates, coaches and ownership have been positive. Both parties made it clear entering the offseason that they wanted a future together.