George Pickens signed the $27.3 million franchise tag Wednesday, a move that makes it very likely he will take part in the Cowboys’ offseason work. The signing also eased questions about whether the team planned to trade the Pro Bowl receiver.
Pickens told the Cowboys shortly before the start of the NFL Draft that he planned to sign the one-year tender. By signing, he became eligible to join the voluntary offseason program that began this week.
The 25-year-old wideout came to Dallas in a trade with Pittsburgh last year. He posted career highs with 93 catches, 1,429 yards receiving and nine touchdowns last season while playing in one of the league’s top offenses. Dallas, however, had one of the NFL’s weakest defenses and finished 7-9-1, missing the playoffs.
Pickens excelled alongside CeeDee Lamb, who is entering the second year of a four-year, $136 million contract that averages $34 million per season. The pair formed a strong receiving duo for the Cowboys’ offense.
The franchise tag guarantees Pickens a large payout compared with the $6.8 million he earned across his four-year rookie deal after being a 2022 second-round pick out of Georgia. Owner and general manager Jerry Jones has said the team has long-term plans for Pickens and “said he wouldn’t have made the lucrative offer under the tag without a belief that Pickens will be with the Cowboys beyond 2026.”
Stephen Jones said the “newness” of Pickens’ tenure with the team was a reason the Cowboys chose a one-year deal rather than a long-term contract now. There is precedent in Dallas for using the tag as a bridge: Dak Prescott and DeMarcus Lawrence each played a season under the tag before signing long-term deals, while Dalton Schultz and Tony Pollard played under the tag and then left in free agency.
Concerns about maturity have followed Pickens since his time in Pittsburgh. His ability was clear over three seasons there, but he also had moments of petulant or indifferent behavior. Pickens and Lamb were benched for the first series in Las Vegas after missing curfew following a casino visit the night before the game.
With the tag signed, Pickens is expected at offseason work and will have more chances to build trust with coaches and teammates. The next step for the Cowboys and Pickens will be whether both sides can agree on a longer deal down the line.
