Receiver George Pickens has not signed the franchise tag tender offered to him by the Dallas Cowboys, according to ESPN’s Todd Archer. despite reports that he would do so during last week’s NFL Draft.
Pickens hasn’t yet signed the franchise tag because he wants a long-term contract, whether that’s with the Cowboys or another NFL team, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported on Monday’s “The Pat McAfee Show.”
“He wants a long-term contract or he would like a trade,” Schefter said. “[The Cowboys] have been very clear that they’re not going to give him a long-term contract. So that leaves both sides in a position that’s a little bit unsettled.“
The Cowboys have already made their stance clear on a multi-year deal with Pickens, as Yahoo Sports’ Jori Epstein wrote last week.
“We’ve made a decision that we’re going to have George play under the franchise tag, which won’t be a first for us,” Cowboys executive VP Stephen Jones told reporters before the draft. “So there won’t be negotiations on a long-term deal.”
Dallas’ reluctance to make a long-term agreement with Pickens stems from the team already paying multi-year, top-dollar contracts with quarterback Dak Prescott and receiver CeeDee Lamb. Prescott agreed to a four-year, $240 million extension in September 2024, while Lamb inked a four-year, $136 million deal a month earlier.
Both players had also played with the Cowboys for multiple seasons, proving their value to the franchise. Pickens has only played one year with Dallas, though he put up excellent numbers last season with 93 receptions, 1.429 yards and nine touchdowns.
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The Cowboys selected East Carolina receiver Anthony Smith with their seventh-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. The 6-foot-2 wideout impressed with a 4.43 40-yard dash time. Whether or not the team views him as a possible replacement for Pickens after the season has yet to be determined.
Under league rules, Pickens has until July 15 to reach such an agreement. But if he signs the tag before then, he cannot sign a multi-year deal until after the 2026 season.
The franchise tag would provide Pickens with a one-year, fully guaranteed $27.3 million contract. He would become an unrestricted free agent following this coming season, but faces the risk of possible injury without the long-term security of a contract.
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