Pickens Holds Out on Franchise Tag, Losing $1.5M Weekly

0:00On April 27, Dallas Cowboys' wide receiver George Pickens hasn't signed his franchise tag yet. That's a fully guaranteed one-year deal, worth $27 million, $298,000. Early reports saying he agreed were way off-base. Adam Schefter cleared it up on the Pam McAfee show. He said Pickens still plans to sign, but draft weekend took priority. The 2026 NFL draft just wrapped in Pittsburgh, so the contract sat on the back burner. Cowboys brass made it clear they won him around. Head coach Brian Shahnheimer said they're thrilled and expect another huge season from the 25-year-old. No long-term extension in the works, though, despite his pushback. Pickens can't get traded until he inks the deal. Holding out won't help there, and he's losing about $1.52 million a week without it. His Pittsburgh days painted him as a bit of a rebel, but playing on this tag looks like his smartest move. Expect him to sign well before September's kickoff and build on last year's monster stats,

1:0293 catches, 1,409 yards, 9 touchdowns, and 2nd team all pro honors. That sets up a big year in Dallas.