Latest Cowboys Rumors on George Pickens Contract Talks Before Deadline for Franchise-Tagged Players

The Dallas Cowboys are not expected to make a last-minute decision to sign George Pickens to a long-term extension.

The Cowboys have yet to discuss a long-term deal for Pickens with around two hours left until the deadline to sign franchise-tagged players to multiyear deals, Yahoo Sports' Jori Epstein reported Wednesday.

Players under franchise tags can only sign multiyear deals until 4 p.m. ET Wednesday, at which point players are only allowed to agree to one-year contracts.

The Cowboys tagged Pickens in February before the wide receiver agreed to sign the $27.3 million tag in April.

Pickens is "on track to participate in training camp" despite his lack of a long-term extension, Epstein reported.

The wide receiver missed voluntary OTAs earlier this offseason due to what he said was advice from his agent, but reported to mandatory minicamp in mid-June.

Pickens said at the time he wasn't disappointed in his lack of a long-term deal and didn't plan to hold out, per NFL.com's Kevin Patra.

He could now look to cash in on his next contract by building on his career-best 2025 season with the Cowboys.

After taking on a larger role with the Cowboys' offense in the injury absence of CeeDee Lamb, Pickens recorded a career-high 1,429 receiving yards and nine receiving touchdowns in 17 games.

Only the Seattle Seahawks' Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Los Angeles Rams' Puka Nacua recorded more receiving yards last season. Smith-Njigba leads all wide receivers with $42.15 million in annual average salary, while Nacua could eclipse that on his next deal.

If Pickens can replicate that performance in his second season with Dak Prescott, the wide receiver could make his case to join them as one of the highest-paid wideouts in the NFL.

Pickens is the only NFL player expected to play under his franchise tag next season. The other two players tagged this offseason, Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts and New York Jets running back Breece Hall, agreed to multi-year deals ahead of the Wednesday deadline.