Hard to believe that it has not even been a week since the news was announced that Dallas Cowboys breakout receiver George Pickens informed the team he intends to sign the franchise tag tender offer. It’s also hard to believe the number of wild swings and changes of direction that took place before we finally got news that Pickens had carried out in intention and signed the one-year, $27 million contract that will allow his to show his wares again in 2026, then hit free agency again in 2027.
But it was ESPN’s Todd Archer that put it out on Twitter/X on Wednesday at about 5:30 p.m. ET: “George Pickens has signed the franchise tag, according to a source.”
It would not, however, be a Cowboys situation if it were all that simple. There are still two very relevant questions that many have on Pickens and his immediate future, mainly, will George Pickens play for the Cowboys in 2026, and if so, when?
Cowboys Have Option to Trade George Pickens
The answer to the first question is maybe. The Cowboys could trade Pickens now that he has signed the tag, and in doing so, would make the business of signing him to a new extension someone else’s problem. COO Stephen Jones said last week, though, that the Cowboys won’t be trading Pickens.
If that had been their intention, they likely would have worked all this out before the draft. Since they didn’t do so, trading Pickens is a longshot which means he is all but certain to be in a Cowboys uniform.
George Pickens Timeline: OTAs Start in June
OK, so the next question is when Pickens will play for the Cowboys? Fact is, he could start now, as the team’s first phase of the offseason program opened this week at The Star. Presumably, Pickens was in Frisco to sign his tag contract–he could stick around and get some work in with his new teammates.
Assuming he misses this first wave of voluntary workouts, May could be light on Pickens news. That’s because there will be no veteran workouts for the month (the rookies will get together for their minicamp this weekend), but the questions will come in hot and heavy starting on June 1.
That’s when the team’s OTAs will first be held, and Pickens could show up for any of those–though they are voluntary workouts. The OTAs will be: June 1-2, June 4, June 8-9 and June 11.
Cowboys Big Date: June 16 Minicamp
Things get serious for the Cowboys and Pickens, though, in about six weeks. That’s when the voluntary work gives way to mandatory minicamp, which will be held June 16-18. Pickens is now under contract, which means the “mandatory” portion of that camp applies to him, and he will be fined if he misses it.
After mandatory minicamp, the next Pickens signpost comes on July 15, which is the deadline date that franchise-tagged players and their teams have to crumple up the franchise deal and do a long-term extension. The Cowboys have said they’re not seeking to sign Pickens to a long-term deal just yet, which means that though this deadline will be a big deal, it won’t mean much if the Cowboys are not negotiating.
George Pickens a Full Go for Training Camp?
Then, of course, we are on to late July, when training camp opens in Oxnard. At that point, Pickens will need to be present or–because he is under contract–he will begin accruing fines. Pickens could hold out for as long as he wants in training camp, but the fact will remain that the Cowboys hold the cards. They do not want to trade Pickens or sign him, and they will expect him to be in camp.
Pickens could hold out as long as he wants, too, into the regular season, though he will lose out on $1.5 million per missed game. The season starts–for Sunday games–on September 13.
Will George Pickens Play for the Cowboys in 2026? Timeline After Franchise Tag News