Cowboys have seemingly made final Pickens franchise-tag decision

Since even earlier than the 2025 common season wrapped up, stories indicated that the Dallas Cowboys had been planning to retain the rights to extensive receiver George Pickens by way of the franchise tag sooner or later after groups can start utilizing their tags on Tuesday. 

For a chunk printed on Monday, Todd Archer of ESPN advised that the Cowboys have made a ultimate resolution concerning Pickens’ short-term future.

How might George Pickens react to being franchise tagged? 

Archer wrote that “it’s a certainty that” the Cowboys will use the franchise tag, which is ready to be price round $28M-$29M, on Pickens earlier than the deadline to take action arrives at 4 p.m. ET on March 3. Beforehand, Cowboys proprietor and common supervisor Jerry Jones said he believed that Dallas tagging Pickens would not influence the 24-year-old “extra in any respect than some other participant.” It appears like Pickens won’t be thrilled about being tagged. 

“If Pickens indicators the tender immediately, he’s assured to make not less than $28M in 2026,” Archer shared. “However it isn’t seemingly he indicators the tender instantly and offers up even his tiny little bit of leverage on a long-term deal. The Cowboys have used the NFL scouting mix because the jumping-off level in most negotiations, so they may seemingly meet with Pickens’ brokers, Trevon Smith and David Mulugheta, on Jones’ luxurious bus in Indianapolis.” 

Final offseason, Jones declined
to barter with Mulugheta throughout a prolonged contract saga involving star pass-rusher Micah Parsons. In late August, Jones traded Parsons to the Green Bay Packers for 2 first-round draft picks and defensive sort out Kenny Clark. Earlier in February, it was reported that “a tag-and-trade state of affairs is taken into account a risk” for Pickens. 

Why Cowboys might wish to maintain, commerce George Pickens

In accordance with ESPN stats, Pickens completed his first season with the Cowboys ranked eighth within the NFL with 93 receptions, third with 1,429 receiving yards and tied for eighth with 9 landing catches. He beforehand caused the Pittsburgh Steelers complications whereas with them from 2022 by way of the 2024 marketing campaign, however Archer talked about that “the questions on [Pickens] in Pittsburgh — maturity, timeliness — weren’t as a lot of an issue for the Cowboys.”

That stated, Pickens was benched
for an offensive collection after he allegedly missed the group bus and was accused of working lazy routes throughout not less than one Dallas loss. Archer added that “a number of sources stated Pickens was fined” throughout this previous season for “being late to issues.” One wonders if considerations associated to such actions will maintain Jones from paying Pickens greater than the worth of the franchise tag this yr.