How will George Pickens' free agency play out with Cowboys? - ESPN

FRISCO, Texas — Starting Tuesday, NFL teams can begin placing the franchise tag on players.

For the Dallas Cowboys, it is a certainty that they will use the tag, which figures to be around $27-28 million, on wide receiver George Pickens by the deadline at 4 p.m. ET on March 3.

Since there have been zero discussions to this point on a long-term deal, connecting the dots to the franchise tag is easy to do.

Acquired in May from the Pittsburgh Steelers, along with a 2027 sixth-round pick, for a 2026 third-round and 2027 fifth-round pick, Pickens put up career highs in catches (93), yards (1,429) and touchdowns (nine) last season.

He was named to the Pro Bowl for the first time and earned second-team All-Pro honors.

At every turn, Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones and executive vice president Stephen Jones have said they want Pickens long term. Pickens, too, has said he wants to stay in Dallas. Quarterback Dak Prescott and receiver CeeDee Lamb don't want him anywhere else, either.

The franchise tag is not desirable for players — despite being fully guaranteed — because there is no long-term security.

Teams say they use it as a stepping-stone to a long-term agreement, although that does not always happen. And since the tag is guaranteed, the entire $28 million will count against the Cowboys' cap, which chews up a lot of space for a team with numerous needs. A long-term deal would eat up considerably less.

As the tag beckons, here are some frequently asked questions related to the Cowboys and Pickens:

If Pickens signs the tender right away, he is guaranteed to make at least $28 million in 2026. But it is not likely he signs the tender immediately and gives up even his tiny bit of leverage on a long-term deal. The