Cowboys' Pickens: Tagged, Training, Ready

0:00On March 31st, it's been over a month since the Dallas Cowboys slapped the non-exclusive franchise tag on wide receiver George Pickens, locking him in. After his pro-Bull breakout season in his first year with the team back in 2025, that tag for 2026 is worth $27.29 million if he signs it, keeping him around for at least one more year. Steven Jones, the Cowboys CLO and co-owner, shut down questions on negotiations at the NFL owner's meetings this week, saying they're not commenting on progress or status. Meanwhile, head coach Brian Schattenheimer confirmed he chatted with Pickens, but isn't pushing for him to show up to voluntary off-season workouts. Which kick off soon, everything's still voluntary, and it'll play out naturally. Cowboys fans know this drill. The team's tag stars like Dak Prescott, DeMarcus Lawrence, and Des Bryant before, often leading to long-term. Players push for multi-year security over the one-and-done tag, and Jones gets that,

1:03but he points out it's a lead tool for building rosters under. The salary cap plenty of guys have balled out on it. Schattenheimer's bullish on Pickens sticking long-term, saying both sides love the fit and business will sort itself. Pickens is already grinding off-season, traveling with CD-LAM and training with Prescott, building that QBWR chemistry that could explode in year. 2. Expect Dallas to keep scheming Pickens all over the field next season, just like when Lamb was sidelined last year. He thrived on it. With that off-season word paying off, the Cowboys passing game looks primed to level up as talks heat up.