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EspañolThe Dallas Cowboys aren't letting George Pickens hit free agency this offseason.
The team will place the franchise tag on the Pro Bowl wide receiver on Friday, according to Yahoo Sports' Jori Epstein. That locks Pickens in for next season on a one-year contract worth roughly $28 million.
The decision is hardly a surprise, and one the Cowboys reportedly decided on doing earlier this month. Playing alongside All-Pro CeeDee Lamb, Pickens enjoyed the best season of his career in 2025 with 93 catches, 1,429 receiving yards and 9 touchdowns on 137 targets after being traded to Dallas from the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Both Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and his son, team COO Stephen Jones, have said they want Pickens back long term, with Jerry saying he expects a long-term extension to get done:
"I'm talking to George all the time by virtue of my excitement for him," Jones said when asked if contract extension talks have begun with Pickens. "He's better than, as far as what he contributed to our team, showing the potential that he could contribute. I'm looking forward to getting things worked out so George can be a Cowboy a long time."
The franchise tag ensures that, however negotiations go, the Cowboys can plan for Pickens to be in the fold for the 2026 season.
Hitting Pickens with the franchise tag does mean the Cowboys will have the NFL's second-most expensive receiver duo next season between him and Lamb, who is currently on a four-year, $136 million deal. Combined with the average annual value of that contract, Dallas will be paying the pair $62 million, behind only the $69 million AAV currently going to the Cincinnati Bengals' Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins.
Pickens is one of several notable Cowboys hitting free agency this offseason. Starters Jadeveon Clowney and Donovan Wilson are unrestricted free agents, while All-Pro kicker Brandon Aubrey is a restricted free agent and is seeking the richest kicker deal in NFL history. Running back Javonte Williams, who was scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason, recently signed a three-year, $24 million contract to return to the team through the 2028 season.
Signing Pickens to an extension instead of the tag would have freed up a significant amount of money for this upcoming offseason, in addition to retaining a star at a premium position for years to come. But at least in the short term, the Cowboys will have Pickens for another year.