The Dallas Cowboys did not reach an agreement with George Pickens on a long-term extension by Wednesday’s 4pm ET deadline. Now, the star receiver and one of the NFL’s best offenses will both enter the 2026 season facing an uncertain future in Dallas.
The team used its franchise tag on Pickens back in February after he ranked third in the NFL last season with 1,429 receiving yards.
But as some league insiders had expected all along, the Cowboys’ well-documented resistance to heavily guaranteed contracts made an extension unlikely. Now, Pickens will play on his $27.3 million franchise tender with an eye towards that once-in-a-lifetime deal in early 2027.
That doesn’t mean Pickens’ future in Dallas is over after this year. Owner/general manager Jerry Jones hasn’t completely dismissed the idea of signing Pickens to a long-term extension.
‘Make no mistake about it,’ Jones said in March, ‘we have long-term plans for Pickens.’
For his part, Pickens didn’t seem too concerned when discussing the issue in the spring.
Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens stretches during the NFL football team’s minicamp
Pickens will play on his $27.3 million franchise tender with an eye towards a bigger deal in ’27
Jerry Jones is notoriously resistant to long-term deals that are heavily guaranteedΒ
‘Like the tag and all that, it’s just football first,’ Pickens told reporters at minicamp. ‘So, definitely play football first, kind of like I did last year, and then worry about [the contract] … Well, let my agent worry about it, really.’
Only four players received a franchise tag this offseason, but the other three did come away with long-term deals.
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones signed a two-year, $88 million extension in March; New York Jets running back agreed to a three-year, $43.5 million extension in May; and in June, the Atlanta Falcons signed tight end Kyle Pitts Sr. to a three-year, $54 million extension.
Pickens was acquired by the Cowboys from Pittsburgh last season in exchange for third- and fifth-round picks. And while he wasn’t good enough to help Dallas overcome one of the league’s worst defenses, the Cowboys did rank seventh in points scored and second in yardage thanks in large part to Pickens’ presence opposite CeeDee Lamb.
Currently the Cowboys have very little cap space, and without some major restructuring to existing contracts, that will continue to be a problem in 2027.
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