Cowboys tag George Pickens for 2026 season

Wide receiver George Pickens will play the 2026 NFL season under the franchise tag for the Dallas Cowboys after the two sides did not reach a long-term contract extension by the league's 4 p.m. ET deadline on Wednesday, July 15. The tag guarantees Pickens a salary of $27.3 million for the upcoming season, making him the 17th-highest paid player at his position.

The outcome was widely anticipated, as Cowboys executive Stephen Jones confirmed in April that the team would not negotiate a multi-year deal with Pickens this offseason. Pickens, who was acquired from the Pittsburgh Steelers in a May 2025 trade, signed his franchise tender in April, ensuring his participation in training camp and eliminating the possibility of a holdout. Jones stated the team has no intention of trading Pickens this year.

Pickens is coming off a career-best season in his first year with Dallas, setting personal highs with 93 receptions, 1,429 receiving yards, and nine touchdowns. His performance helped the Cowboys field one of the league's most potent offenses and earned him recognition as one of the NFL's top receivers. He forms a formidable duo with All-Pro wideout CeeDee Lamb, and together they are...