The Dallas Cowboys made one of the trades of the year last spring, sending a 2026 third-round pick to the Steelers for controversial WR George Pickens. After flashing stardom in Pittsburgh, the Steelers didn’t want to commit to Pickens long-term due to concerns surrounding his behavior and locker room presence.
The Cowboys took advantage, inserting Pickens into their already explosive offense and watching the returns come in. He had a career year in Dallas, posting 93 receptions for 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns, ranking third in the league in receiving yards. Pickens showed out for the Cowboys in a contract season, but he was set to be a free agent in 2026.
Rather than allowing him to hit the open market, the Cowboys used the franchise tag on Pickens. The tag keeps him under contract in Dallas on a one-year, $27.298 million deal that’s fully guaranteed. It’s just a temporary solution, however — the Cowboys will be faced with another Pickens decision a year from now.
Insider Reveals the Dallas Cowboys’ Plan for George Pickens in 2027?
GettyLANDOVER, MARYLAND – DECEMBER 25: George Pickens #3 of the Dallas Cowboys reacts after a catch against the Washington Commanders in the first quarter of a game at Northwest Stadium on December 25, 2025 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
Jason La Canfora of SportsBoom had some interesting intel on the Cowboys’ future plans for Pickens, and how much Dallas might be willing to commit to him next offseason.
“At one point during his meeting with the media, [Cowboys owner Jerry Jones], notorious for trying to work deals with his top players directly with them and without their representation privy to all details and conversations, hinted that Pickens might do better in this matter without relying on his agent,” La Canfora wrote.
“I don’t and won’t get into our planning and structure of our team and our cap, but the franchise tag is an integral part of all teams, but certainly an integral part of our strategy over the next two or three years as we look at how to keep the best players we can have relative to the cap,” Jones said at last week’s owners meeting via La Canfora.
Could the Dallas Cowboys Use the Franchise Tag on George Pickens Again in 2027?
Given the concerns Dallas has about signing Pickens to a major long-term deal, it’s possible they could use the franchise tag on him again next offseason. It would effectively kick the can down the road, while keeping him locked up on a relatively affordable contract. One NFL executive seemed to think the idea makes sense.
“Pay-as-you guy is a smart strategy with Pickens,” said one longtime NFL contract negotiator via La Canfora. “And Jerry [Jones]’s never shy about applying the tag. Even if Pickens keeps it together [in 2026], there would be some obvious concerns about how he would operate with the kind of guarantees that would come with a top-of-market deal…. I don’t believe Jerry subscribes to the calculus of having two receivers on a mega deal and his quarterback at the top of the market.”
Insider Reveals Intel on Cowboys’ Future Plans for George Pickens