$27.3m tag George Pickens debate ‘far from over’ after Dallas Cowboys miss top draft receiver target

George Pickens may have signed his franchise tag with the Dallas Cowboys, but the saga is far from over.

The 25-year-old wide receiver guaranteed himself $27.3 million this season, a vast pay-rise from his four-year, $6.752 million rookie deal.

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According to Spotrac, he now slots in as the sixth-highest-paid receiver in the NFL for the 2026 season, but past next year, his future is very much uncertain.

Despite a breakout campaign, in which he was quarterback Dak Prescott‘s leading receiver, recording 1,429 receiving yards and nine touchdowns, the Cowboys appeared hesitant to pen Pickens to a long-term extension.

Pickens was also seemingly reluctant to sign the franchise tender, dragging the process out nearly a week after the initial announcement made just before the 2026 NFL Draft, which led to speculation that the Cowboys could engage in a draft-day trade.

That, of course, never materialized.

Pickens’ timing of signing tag raises questions

ESPN insider Jeremy Fowler has since proposed the theory that Pickens’ decision to sign the tag could have emerged out of their interest in top receiving prospect Jordyn Tyson.

“The team was high on Arizona State receiver Jordyn Tyson,” Fowler wrote. “Did the threat of taking a receiver high play a role in George Pickens agreeing to sign his franchise tag hours before the draft?

“Hard to know for certain, but it’s not out of the realm of possibilities. This feels far from over.

Tyson wound up being the second receiver taken off the board, with the Arizona State star being taken by the New Orleans Saints with the No. 8 overall pick.

Dallas ultimately got their defensive reinforcement by taking Ohio State safety Caleb Downs with the No. 11 overall pick.

Had they been seriously considering a top wide receiver, both Makai Lemon and Omar Cooper Jr. were still on the board when they jumped back on the clock at pick No. 20.

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But they wound up striking an NFC East trade with their biggest rivals Philadelphia Eagles to trade down to No. 23, where they went defense again and selected UCF edge Malachi Lawrence.

“A Cowboys source also says the team did not receive a call from Pittsburgh about the 20th pick,” Fowler added.

“The Steelers were planning to take Makai Lemon before the Eagles traded up to the Cowboys’ No. 20 spot to select him.”

This raises the question of whether Jerry Jones is really considering trading Pickens either before, or during, the upcoming season.

With CeeDee Lamb seen as their primary receiver, Pickens is more a luxury for Dallas at this point, but they would still have to find a legitimate WR2 if they did decide to move on from the 25-year-old after just one season.

If he were to stay put on the Cowboys and produce a similar level of production for America’s Team in 2026, not only would they perhaps be a legitimate Super Bowl contender – at least from an offensive standpoint – but Pickens could stand to make a huge amount of money on his next contract.

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“If [Pickens] goes into this season, plays on the franchise tag, and has a repeat of last year—and I don’t mean on the field, I mean off the field—he will sign the biggest contract for a wide receiver in NFL history,” Andrew Hawkins stated on NFL Live.

“And he would’ve earned it, and answered a lot of questions.”

Whether he can bring his behavior in-line, though, is a different story entirely.

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