George Pickens entered the 2026 NFL offseason as the top wide receiver set to hit the free agent market, and arguably the top player, regardless of position, to hit the market. However, the Dallas Cowboys have officially placed the franchise tag on Pickens, confirming that he will not hit the open market.
While this doesn’t confirm that Pickens will definitely play in Dallas next year, it ensures that Dallas will either have Pickens or will get compensation for him.
George Pickens Excited to Be Back in Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys made the widely expected decision by officially placing the franchise tag on Pickens.
“Jerry [Jones] had a great visit with him yesterday, he [Pickens] was fired up that he wasn’t going to be going anywhere,” said Cowboys chief operating officer and co-owner Stephen Jones on “The Rich Eisen Show.”
Jones added, “He was very fired up about his future with us; we felt like he wanted to be in Dallas.”
Pickens had a breakout season in 2025, ranking as the No. 3 wide receiver in the PFSN WR Impact Metric (WRi). He was named a Pro Bowler for the first time in his four-year NFL career, after setting career highs across the board, catching 93 of 137 targets for 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns.
“We’re not putting any time frame on this. The most important thing is live in the present.”
Cowboys Chief Operating Officer & Co-Owner Stephen Jones talks about the decision to franchise tag WR George Pickens 🏈
(via @richeisenshow) pic.twitter.com/meEfKAkxMF
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) February 27, 2026
The former Georgia standout is set to turn 25 in March and will officially make $27.298 million on the franchise tag, per ESPN senior NFL insider Adam Schefter. He will be the 13th-highest-paid player at the wide receiver position in 2026 as a result of the franchise tag.
While he is now tied to Dallas for another season, he has no long-term deal in place.
George Pickens’ franchise number is officially is $27.298 million. https://t.co/ObsU8C2Cfs
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 27, 2026
Questions will now shift to whether Dallas will ink Pickens to a long-term deal, and if so, when? While Pickens and the Cowboys are both happy to be reunited now, if contract negotiations sour, will Pickens play on the franchise tag?
“We’re not putting any time frame on this,” Jones said when asked if this was the beginning of something with Pickens. “The most important thing is live in the present.”
Dallas has bought itself time with the franchise tag and now has leeway to discuss a long-term deal with Pickens.
It remains to be seen if the team plans to sign him to a long-term contract, have him play this season on the franchise tag, or look to move him for premium draft compensation.
As of now, Dallas and Pickens are expected to remain together for at least another season, but if contract negotiations go sour, he could be a name that emerges in trade rumors. The situation between Pickens and Dallas will be one worth monitoring as the season progresses.
