English
EspañolThe Dallas Cowboys didn't see a need to wait until the last minute... kind of, sort of. With a window that doesn't close until March 3, the team has placed the franchise tag on their most valuable pending free agent, WR George Pickens.
The move, the non-exclusive franchise tag, doesn't prevent Pickens from negotiating with other teams once the NFL league year kicks off on March 11. He'll actually be able to have contract talks with any other team starting March 9, the start of the legal tampering window. What the tag does do is guarantee the Cowboys the chance to match any offer, or receive compensation if they don't match an offer sheet.
In exchange, Pickens will immediately hit the books for $28.8 million in 2026 cap hit. That will push the Cowboys to need to create $55 million of space based on their current contracts by midnight of March 12. Otherwise, the league will begin releasing players from the roster to bring them in compliance.
The Dallas Cowboys will do what has been expected on Friday, placing the franchise tag on wide receiver George Pickens to secure his rights at least through 2026, sources told @toddarcher. pic.twitter.com/rmIPSxAnsY
— ESPN (@espn) February 27, 2026
The Cowboys have let it be known numerous times, both the Joneses in the front office and head coach Brian Schottenheimer, that they want to work out a long-term deal with Pickens to play opposite CeeDee Lamb for years to come.
Pickens' production exploded once the club traded for him, acquiring the then three-year veteran from the Pittsburgh Steelers for Dallas' third-round pick in this draft. There was also a swap of Day 3 draft assets. Pickens rewarded the investment with a Second-Team All-Pro campaign, hauling in 93 passes for 1,429 yards and scoring nine touchowns.
All were career highs, but Pickens came over with just one season remaining on his contract.
The question now is just where does the market sit for Pickens. Dallas is already paying Lamb at the top of the wideout market, at $34 million a year, good for third-highest in the league. He was the second-best paid WR when he signed.
With reigning OPOY Jaxson Smith-Njigba angling to suprass the Bengals' Ja'Marr Chase's $40 million per year average, many wonder if that puts Pickens in the ballpark of approaching or surpassing Lamb.
Perhaps being able to negotiate with other teams can give each side some idea of where that number sits at. Pickens can negotiate without signing an offer sheet, or if he's truly interested in forcing the Cowboys' hand, he can do so.
Absent an offer sheet, the two sides will have until July 17 to reach a long-term deal, or the one-year tender will lock in for the 2026 season. Until Pickens signs the tender, he is not required to participate in any team activities, which would bring a circus-like atmosphere to Dallas' offseason yet again.
This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Cowboys slap franchise tag on WR George Pickens, now $55M over cap