Report: Cowboys expected to place franchise tag on Pickens
The Dallas Cowboys are expected to place the franchise tag on wide receiver George Pickens, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.
The projected cost of the franchise tag for Pickens will be roughly $28 million fully guaranteed, Schefter adds. Dallas can officially place the tag on the wideout between Feb. 18 and March 3.
The Cowboys can use the franchise tag as a placeholder while negotiating a long-term extension. Pickens is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent in mid-March.
"I'm talking to George all the time by virtue of my excitement for him," Cowboys owner Jerry Jones told team reporter Tommy Yarrish on Thursday.
He added: "I'm looking forward to getting things worked out so George can be a Cowboy a long time."
Pickens is coming off a career season in which he totaled 93 receptions for 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns. He collected the third-most receiving yards in the NFL, trailing only Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Puka Nacua.
"I think it must be done," Dak Prescott said of a potential Pickens extension.
The quarterback added: "We've got to find a way to keep him here."
The Cowboys acquired Pickens and a sixth-round selection from the Pittsburgh Steelers in May for third- and fifth-round picks. Pickens' addition to the team helped Dallas rank fifth in EPA/play and sixth in success rate this season.
The Cowboys are currently $29.1 million over the salary cap for 2026, according to Over The Cap.