The Cowboys won’t let George Pickens hit free agency.
Dallas is planning to place the franchise tag on receiver George Pickens on Friday following a career-best first season with the team, according to Yahoo.
Spotrac estimates the tag will be worth roughly $28 million for receivers.
“I’m talking to George all the time by virtue of my excitement for him,” Cowboys owner Jerry Jones recently said of Pickens, according to the team website.
“He’s better than, as far as what he contributed to our team, showing the potential that he could contribute. I’m looking forward to getting things worked out so George can be a Cowboy a long time.”
The franchise tag does not guarantee that Pickens will be with the Cowboys next season, but gives the sides extra time to negotiate a long-term deal and would allow Dallas to maintain his rights for a possible trade.
Pickens, 24, is coming off a sensational season with Dallas following a polarizing three-year tenure with the Steelers that resulted in him being traded for just a third-round pick ahead of the 2025 season.
The receiver posted career-highs in receptions with 93, targets with 137, receiving yards with 1,429 and touchdowns with nine across 17 games.
Those numbers could land Pickens a potential contract in line with No. 1 receivers, but Dallas could be avoiding going to such prices by utilizing the franchise tag.
The tag allows them time to find a deal that works for both parties, compared to letting him hit free agency and potentially losing a talented player in a bidding war.
Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones recently said the team had been “leaning” toward doing so, according to ESPN.
“I would love to (stay),” Pickens said, according to the Cowboys’ website. “But when you can’t control it, you kind of just hope for the best.”
The Cowboys are already paying No. 1 receiver CeeDee Lamb $34 million per year, which factors into how much they would want to spend on a second big contract for the position.
Dallas has massive needs on defense, and money spent on Pickens affects what is available to help the other side of the ball.
“Those are all things that we’re looking at, so we’ll make decisions based on where we ultimately come down,” Jones said, per ESPN. “I mean, obviously, what we need to get accomplished on the defensive side of the ball is going to affect a lot of things. … It’ll be a work in progress.”
Cowboys QB Dak Prescott has made it known that he wants Pickens on the roster next year.
“I think it’s vital. I think it must be done,” Prescott said, according to the Dallas team site. “I think obviously from Jerry to everybody down understands that, and one the impact on this offense and the team and the great player that he is, we’ve got to find a way to keep him here.”
