The Dallas Cowboys plan to have wide receiver George Pickens play on the franchise tag in 2026 and will not negotiate a long-term contract with him this offseason, executive vice president of personnel Stephen Jones said Wednesday.
Pickens has not yet signed the one-year tag, which is reported to be worth $27.3 million. Because he has not signed, he would face no financial penalty if he chose not to report to the team’s mandatory minicamp in June. The rest of the team’s offseason program that begins Monday is voluntary.
“We’ve made a decision that we’re going to have George play under the franchise tag, which won’t be a first for us,” Stephen Jones said. “So there won’t be negotiations on a long-term deal. But that’s certainly not a first for this organization and certainly won’t be a first in the league in terms of this decision as we move forward.”
Jones said he has not spoken to Pickens recently, but owner Jerry Jones and coach Brian Schottenheimer did meet with the receiver. “It was good,” Schottenheimer said during the Cowboys’ news conference leading into the NFL draft. “The thing that George knows about Jerry and myself is we’re very upfront and we’re honest. We had great conversation. We informed him. We think that’s important because that’s the way we handle all of our players and coaches.”
Pickens’ agent, David Mulugheta, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Acquired last offseason in a trade, Pickens posted career highs last season with 93 catches, 1,429 receiving yards and nine touchdowns. He played a major role in one of the NFL’s top offenses, while Dallas’ defense struggled and the team finished 7-9-1, missing the playoffs for the second straight year.
Team salary structure and contract timing were cited as central reasons for not agreeing to a long-term deal now. “There’s a lot of things that go into that,” Stephen Jones said of the decision not to go forward on a long-term deal this offseason. “Let’s start with the fact that it’s not easy having two receivers being paid top of the market. A quarterback that’s been here, being the highest-paid player in this league for many years now.”
“The other thing is the newness of George being here,” Stephen Jones said. “I think George has just done an amazing job. I mean he’s exceeded all expectations. And a lot of those things, they make their way toward a long-term deal, but that’s the biggest part of it — between the business and newness of it, I think that’s a big part of it.”
Pickens was a 2022 second-round pick and earned about $6.8 million on his rookie deal. His time with the Steelers showed high-level talent but also moments that raised questions about his maturity. Last season, he and CeeDee Lamb were briefly benched for the first series in Las Vegas after missing curfew following a casino visit the night before the game.
Looking ahead, Pickens’ status remains a focus. The Cowboys expect him to play on the franchise tag, but he has options until he signs. The team must balance top-tier receiver pay, the quarterback’s contract, and roster needs as it moves toward training camp and the next season.
