Cowboys lock in George Pickens on $27.3M franchise tag despite failing to reach long-term contract

The Dallas Cowboys announced George Pickens has signed his franchise tag for the 2026 season.

Pickens has present guaranteed himself $27.3 cardinal this play pursuing his breakout archetypal twelvemonth with the Cowboys successful 2025.

Though the Cowboys and Pickens couldn’t scope a semipermanent deal, Cowboys CEO Stephen Jones maintains the squad has nary volition to commercialized the 25-year-old receiver for the upcoming campaign.

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George Pickens of the Dallas Cowboys looks connected aft his team’s 33-16 triumph against the Las Vegas Raiders astatine Allegiant Stadium successful Las Vegas, Nev., connected Nov. 17, 2025. (Ian Maule/Getty Images)

A study came retired earlier the NFL Draft past week stating Pickens intended connected signing the tag, though it wasn’t implicit until the announcement connected April 29.

It was wide thought that Dallas and Pickens would get a semipermanent woody together, particularly with squad proprietor Jerry Jones stating astatine the NFL’s yearly gathering that the Cowboys has "long-term plans" for the Pro Bowler, per Yahoo Sports.

COWBOYS ANNOUNCE DECISION ON GEORGE PICKENS' CONTRACT STATUS AS HE SEEKS MAJOR DEAL

While the franchise tag could beryllium viewed arsenic a placeholder for a semipermanent woody to materialize astatine immoderate constituent earlier the season, the Cowboys announced earlier this period they wouldn’t negociate semipermanent deals with franchise-tagged players earlier the July 15 deadline.

Pickens, apt realizing the Cowboys’ stance, went with the $27.3 cardinal guarantee.

The Cowboys’ determination for Pickens past offseason successful a commercialized with the Pittsburgh Steelers proved a occurrence contempt the squad missing the playoffs successful caput manager Brian Schottenheimer’s archetypal twelvemonth astatine the helm.

George Pickens of the Dallas Cowboys stretches earlier an NFL crippled against the Detroit Lions astatine Ford Field successful Detroit, Mich., connected Dec. 4, 2025. (Michael Owens/Getty Images)

Pickens was a second-team All-Pro, hauling successful 93 receptions from backmost Dak Prescott for 1,429 yards with 9 touchdowns crossed 17 games.

It was wide the Cowboys’ walk onslaught was 1 of the astir lethal successful the NFL, arsenic Pickens worked alongside CeeDee Lamb, choky extremity Jake Ferguson and different weapons that stood out, including Ryan Flournoy, who had a breakout season.

Lamb was besides paid this past year, arsenic the Cowboys agreed to his inquire of being 1 of the highest-paid receivers successful the NFL. Lamb signed a four-year woody worthy $136 million, which makes him the 4th highest-paid receiver successful the league now.

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens celebrates a Thanksgiving Day triumph by eating turkey aft the crippled against the Kansas City Chiefs astatine AT&T Stadium connected Nov. 27, 2025. (Kevin Jairaj/Imagn Images)

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Seattle Seahawks prima Jaxon Smith-Njigba reset the highest-paid receiver successful NFL past grounds with a $168.8 cardinal woody with $120 cardinal guaranteed aft his Super Bowl-winning run that saw the 24-year-old triumph Offensive Player of the Year.

The Cowboys cognize however large Pickens and Lamb are together, but shelling retired wealth for 2 top-market receivers isn’t the easiest connected the books. With the franchise tag, Pickens is the 15th highest-paid receiver successful the NFL astatine the commencement of the 2026 season.

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