George Pickens joined the Dallas Cowboys in a contract year, hoping to prove he could avoid on-field antics and deliver production that would demonstrate he can be a true No. 1 wide receiver. Coming off a breakthrough season, he is now poised to become the best player available in NFL free agency.
However, NFL insider Tony Pauline reported that the talk around the Senior Bowl this week is that Dallas will use the franchise tag on Pickens. it would prevent him from reaching the open market, keeping him under the Cowboys control for another season.
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The 24-year-old wideout is coming off a second-team All-Pro selection. Based on OvertheCap.com projections, the franchise tag for a wide receiver in 2026 is expected to be $28.064 million. That would be a fully guaranteed salary, making Pickens the 13th-highest-paid wide receiver in football.
While the franchise tag would keep him in Dallas for another year, the team has demonstrated over the years that it can raise more problems. Previous contract sagas with Ezekiel Elliott and Dak Prescott created issues that dragged well into the summer, with resolutions not reached until right before Week 1.
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So, the franchise tag could potentially be a recipe for even more chaos with a wide receiver who is known for having a bit volatile of a personality. Pickens will want long-term financial security after putting up 93 receptions, 1,429 receiving yards and 9 touchdowns this past season.
For now, that doesn’t seem to be something the Cowboys front office is inclined to give. It means Dallas is destined for another summer where a franchise tag saga dominates headlines. If history is any guide, some form of resolution will be reached by the first week of September.
