The Dallas Cowboys made the expected move on Friday, announcing they have placed their franchise tag on wide receiver George Pickens.
The franchise tag for wide receiver is set at $27,298,000 million, NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero reported. Sides have until July 15 to negotiate a long-term deal; otherwise, Pickens will play the season on a one-year pact.
The deadline for NFL teams to tag players is Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET.
Utilizing the mechanism to ensure Pickens remains in Dallas in 2026 has been the expectation, with Cowboys EVP Stephen Jones noting earlier this week that the club was "leaning toward" tagging the wideout.
The Cowboys acquired Pickens and a 2027 sixth-round pick from the Pittsburgh Steelers last March for a 2026 third-rounder and a 2027 seventh-round selection.
Pickens, a former second-round pick, went on to have his most prolific campaign in 2025, generating 93 catches, 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns. Ensuring that production didn't leave the building was a priority for Dallas. With Pickens and CeeDee Lamb together, Dak Prescott has the firepower for the Cowboys to remain an explosive, top-tier offense in 2026.
The question spinning forward is whether the Cowboys, who are currently over the salary cap, can strike a long-term deal with Pickens. Eight wide receivers make $30-plus million per season, including Lamb's $34 million, meaning Pickens should be looking at a massive pay day on a multi-year extension. Another option to consider is trading Pickens while he's on the franchise tag -- the player needs to sign the franchise tender for that to happen.
Until Pickens signs the franchise tender, or a separate extension before July 15, he is not considered under contract and couldn't be fined for missing any mandatory work this offseason.
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