The Dallas Cowboys are reportedly leaning towards using the franchise tag on wide receiver George Pickens, a decision that would involve committing approximately $28 million. This move is expected to be finalized by the March 3 deadline, as the team weighs their options concerning player involvement and long-term roster strategy. The Dallas Cowboys franchise tag application reflects careful consideration about maintaining their competitive edge while managing salary commitments.
Stephen Jones, Executive Vice President of the Cowboys, confirmed the organization’s current stance during the NFL scouting combine held in Indianapolis. He noted that meetings with Pickens’ representatives are planned this week, though no formal long-term contract talks have started yet.
Concerns About Player Participation and Previous Franchise Tag Outcomes
Applying the franchise tag to a key player often raises questions about their eagerness to participate in offseason activities such as minicamps and training camps. Jones addressed these concerns by pointing to past experiences with tagged players. Cowboys’ franchise tag history includes key players who fulfilled their commitments under the tag.
“It crosses your mind,” Jones said. “I mean, a lot of the guys we’ve tagged participated in everything, Dak [Prescott] leading the way. He played under two of them. He never missed anything. Hopefully, that’ll be the case here.” ?Stephen Jones, Executive Vice President
The Cowboys have employed the franchise tag annually from 2018 through 2023 on important contributors including DeMarcus Lawrence, Dak Prescott, Dalton Schultz, and Tony Pollard. While Lawrence and Prescott eventually signed multiyear deals after their second franchise tags, the last first-time tagged player to agree to a long-term contract was wide receiver Dez Bryant in 2015.
“It can go either way,” Jones remarked about the negotiation outcomes. “So we’ll just continue to really analyze the situation and see what’s next.” ?Stephen Jones, Executive Vice President
Financial Planning With Respect to Roster and Salary Cap
The prospect of placing a $28 million tag on Pickens follows recent Cowboys payroll moves, such as a three-year, $24 million contract agreement with running back Javonte Williams signed last weekend. During last year’s combine, the team also finalized a substantial $80 million deal with defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa before free agency officially began.
With Pro Bowl receiver CeeDee Lamb already earning $34 million a year—placing him among the top paid receivers—the Cowboys have the salary cap space to maintain both wideouts. Yet, the front office remains deliberate in determining whether allocating such a high figure to Pickens is the best use of resources, given other urgent roster needs.
“Those are all things that we’re looking at, so we’ll make decisions based on where we ultimately come down,” Jones explained about financial considerations. “I mean, obviously, what we need to get accomplished on the defensive side of the ball is going to affect a lot of things. … It’ll be a work in progress.” ?Stephen Jones, Executive Vice President
Teams like the Cincinnati Bengals, with their star trio of Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, and Tee Higgins, and the Philadelphia Eagles with Jalen Hurts, A.J. Brown, and DeVonta Smith, serve as examples of managing multiple top-paid offensive players successfully.
Managing Salary Cap and Preparing for Free Agency
Despite the high cost associated with tagging Pickens, Jones expressed optimism about the Dallas Cowboys’ capability to stay active in the upcoming free agency period. According to AvandaTimes, efforts to restructure contracts involving players such as Prescott, Lamb, Odighizuwa, and offensive lineman Tyler Smith are underway to free up cap space.
The Cowboys have not made a major free agent acquisition in over a decade since cornerback Brandon Carr signed a five-year, $50 million deal in 2012. Holding control over Pickens and Williams positions them to focus on strengthening their defense under Christian Parker, the new defensive coordinator.
“Every year is different, and a lot of that will depend on what’s out there and the value that we think is there,” Jones said. “We’ll make decisions based on that. But, yeah, we certainly think we’ll end up being involved in free agency this year.” ?Stephen Jones, Executive Vice President
The anticipation surrounding the Dallas Cowboys franchise tag decision on George Pickens highlights the organization’s balancing act between maintaining top talent and managing financial commitments. How the situation unfolds will be critical in shaping the team’s roster and competitive outlook heading into the next NFL season.
