Cowboys Hold Leverage with Pickens

0:00It's April 22nd, NFL News Today starts now, AI powered and always on. The Dallas Cowboys snag wide receiver George Pickens from the Pittsburgh Steelers last year with just the third round draft pick, and he's been, balling out ever since. Adam Schaefter dropped a bomb on ESPN this week, saying the Cowboys are nowhere close to a long-term extension with him. They slapped the franchise tag on Pickens for the 2026 season at just under $28 million, while the wide receiver markets sitting around $40 million a year. Earlier this off-season, Dallas locked in kicker Brandon Aubrey to a long-term deal, showing they can move when they want. But with Pickens, they've got him locked at a steel compared to guys like CD-LAM or DAC-Prescott, thanks to that tag giving them all the leverage. Fans and analysts are buzzing because the Cowboys aren't rushing like they have in past negotiations. Fans earned his spot with top production, but the team's playing it cool, holding that

1:00bargain rate without holdouts messing up camp. Meanwhile, as draft talk heats up, if top defensive backs dry up, Dallas might grab another receiver like Arizona State's Jordan Tyson or Ohio State's. Carnell Tate, that'd pile on even more trade bait or depth. Steven Jones said straight up in their pre-draft presser they'd run it back with Pickens on the tag. No long-term talks for now, though that could be. Some posturing, bottom line, the Cowboys are in the driver's seat and don't need to bud yet. It's smart business and a rigged game keeps the squad stacked without breaking the bank.