George Pickens Reportedly to Sign Cowboys Franchise Tag Amid Contract, NFL Trade Rumors

George Pickens will have to play out the 2026 season on the franchise tag after he was unable to come to terms on a long-term contract with the Dallas Cowboys.

Per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, Pickens is signing the franchise tag and is now under contract with the Cowboys for one year and $27.3 million fully guaranteed.

Pickens signing the franchise tag now opens up the possibility he'll be traded, though Rapoport reported Wednesday that the Cowboys don't want to trade the wide receiver.

NFL Network's Jane Slater reported there has been no trade talks ahead of the draft:

This was the expected outcome after Cowboys chief operating officer Stephen Jones told reporters prior to the draft that their plan was to have Pickens play out this season on the tag.

Dallas used the one-year franchise tender worth $27.3 million guaranteed on Pickens on Feb. 27 to prevent him from hitting free agency. Team COO Stephen Jones said on The Rich Eisen Show that same day there was no time frame for a potential long-term deal.

Dallas has a history of letting players play on the tag, especially in recent years. The Cowboys used the one-year tender every year from 2018 to '23. DeMarcus Lawrence and Dak Prescott both received it twice, signing long-term deals after the second one.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones told reporters at the NFL scouting combine he wasn't sure if Pickens would engage in a holdout until there was a resolution to his contract situation, but expressed hope that things would remain copacetic between the two sides.

"I want our George Pickens' relationship to be all honey," Jones said. "I expect him to have an outstanding year."

Pickens had a lot of leverage entering talks with the Cowboys. The 25-year-old led the team with 93 receptions, 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns last season after being acquired from the Pittsburgh Steelers for two draft picks.

There was some risk for the Cowboys if they had been able to sign Pickens to a long-term deal with Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb already on expensive contracts.

The Cincinnati Bengals showed some of the downsides that can come when a team ties up significant cap space in the quarterback and two wide receivers at the expanse of other positions.

By not getting a long-term deal done with Pickens, though, the Cowboys run the risk of alienating a player who is vital to their success in 2026.

Pickens still has a lot at stake because a lucrative multiyear extension will almost certainly be on the table next year if he plays well again, but this does force him to play and risk injury without the security of a long-term contract.