Cowboys reportedly have this George Pickens plan now that he has signed franchise tag

During a Wednesday appearance on "The Pat McAfee Show," NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport revealed that wide receiver George Pickens had informed the Dallas Cowboys that Pickens would soon be signing the franchise tag worth roughly $27.3M for the 2026 season. 

Pickens did just that later in the day, which means he can now be traded to a team willing to sign him to a lucrative extension. It sounds like the Cowboys have no intention of selling Pickens at a discounted price this spring or summer. 

This is "the most likely scenario" for George Pickens regarding 2026 season

"I would be surprised if he is traded, but I would not be beyond stunned because I have seen this before," Rapoport said about Pickens, per Sean Deveney of Heavy. "...The Cowboys have been adamant. They are not going to trade him. (Cowboys executive vice president) Stephen Jones has said on the record, [Pickens] is going to be playing for them. I agree that is the most likely scenario. But everyone has a price..."

As Patrik Walker shared for the Cowboys' website, Jones said after the opening night of the 2026 NFL Draft that "we have no intention of moving George." 

Rapoport explained that the Cowboys completing a Pickens trade after this year's draft is complicated for multiple reasons. Draft assets that Dallas would acquire via such a transaction wouldn't help the club until the 2027 season at the earliest. Additionally, "maturity questions" that have hovered over Pickens since he first entered the league via the 2022 draft could scare would-be buyers off from giving up multiple picks for the right to then sign the 25-year-old to an expensive multiyear contract. 

George Pickens may have accepted the reality of his situation

"My guess is he is playing for the Cowboys, plays great, and next year, signs a huge deal with the Cowboys or walks and signs a massive deal somewhere else," Rapoport added about Pickens.

Pickens signing the tag indicates he won't sit out regular-season games to protest not having a long-term contract. Even if he is truly hoping to be traded to a team willing to pay him, it now seems that he will be on the Dallas roster when the 2026 campaign gets underway in September.