Cowboys Place Franchise Tag on Pickens

0:00On March 19, the Dallas Cowboys missed the playoffs in the 2025 season with a 7-win, 9-loss, 1-tie record. Their offense ranked second in the league at nearly 392 yards per game, but a weak defense held them back. Wide receiver George Pickens, shown in his first year with the team, leading Dallas with 93 catches, 1,429 yards, and 9 touchdowns. Pickens joined the Cowboys in an off-season trade from the Pittsburgh Steelers and quickly became a top target for quarterback Dak Prescott even, sharing the field with star CD Lamb. His four-year rookie contract worth about $6,752,000 expired after the season, making him a free agent. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones showed strong support by placing the franchise tag on Pickens, guaranteeing him $27.3 million for. In 2006, Jones made it clear he sees Pickens as a key part of the team's future and expects long-term talks to follow.

1:01So far, though, no contract negotiations have happened, according to reports from the Dallas Morning News. Pickens might end up playing under the tag through training camp, with plenty of time for things to shift. That keeps the dynamic duo of Pickens and Lamb intact for Prescott next year, giving Dallas a solid foundation to build on as they aim to bounce back. Pickens joined the Cowboys in an off-season trade from the Dallas Morning News.