Pickens & Pitts: Franchise Tag Dilemma

0:00On March 8th, Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens and Falcons tight-in Kyle Pitts are among the players tagged with franchise tenders, this, offseason. Both are likely to play the entire 2026 season on those one-year deals instead of signing long-term contracts. The teams want proof that their breakout 2025 performances can hold up over a full year. For Pitts, it's all about on-field consistency under New Head Coach Kevin Stofanski. His rookie year brought a pro-bowl nod and over 1,000 receiving yards, but injuries and limited snaps followed in later seasons. Last year, he hit career highs with 88 catches, 928 yards, and 5 touchdowns on an 88% snap share. Pickens delivered 93 receptions for 1,493 yards and 9 scores in 2025, a huge step after. Maturity concerns prompted the Steelers to trade him to Dallas. The Cowboys already paid top dollar for CD-LAM, so they're watching Pickens closely off the field too.

1:01His agent represents both Pickens and recently traded star, Micah Parsons, fueling trade talk even with the tag. Still, no teams have shown interest yet. Pitts stands to earn $16.32 million on his tender, while Pickens gets $27.3 million. As free agency heats up, keep an eye on whether the stars build leverage for future extensions or force their team's hands.