Jerry Jones hints at long-term plans for George Pickens

0:00On April 1st, Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones dropped a hint at the NFL owner meetings about wide receiver George Pickens. He says the team has long-term plans for the guy ahead of the 2026 season, but no big details came out, leaving everyone guessing if that means a fat extension or something else. Jones made it clear the franchise tag plays a big role in their strategy over the next two or three years. It's all about holding onto top talent without blowing the salary cap. It stands out as the prime candidate on the roster, way more than say their kicker. Fans lit up after hearing about those long-term plans, hoping for a multi-year deal to lock him in. His old drama with the Pittsburgh Steelers doesn't seem to phase Dallas. They're confident he fits. Still, the wide receiver market is wild right now, making tags look smart. Digging deeper, tagging Pickens back to back in 2026 and 2027 could run about 30 million bucks a year. Fans under what top guys like Jackson Smith and Jigba pull in new money, around 33 to 35

1:05million. Cowboys aren't huge free agency spenders anyway, so cap hits like that work for them. Bottom line, this keeps Pickens around short-term without a long extension. Play out those tags though, and by 2028 he holds all the cards if he keeps dominating, might force their hand big time down the road.