How Cowboys' George Pickens reportedly will respond to Stephen Jones about playing on franchise tag

During the NFL's annual meetings this week, Dallas Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones suggested that wide receiver George Pickens may have to accept playing on the franchise tag worth around $27.3M for the 2026 season.

Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones later revealed that he has "long-term plans in mind for Pickens." During a Thursday appearance on "The Pat McAfee Show," NFL insider Adam Schefter of ESPN hinted that Pickens isn't close to receiving the type of multiyear offer he wants from the Cowboys this offseason. 

George Pickens has seemingly made decision about Cowboys' offseason program

"I'm skeptical that there'll be an extension," Schefter said about the Pickens situation. "It's early. It's April 2. But George Pickens is not allowed to be in that building unless he signs the franchise tender. He's not going to sign that franchise tender without there being a long-term deal. I don't see a long-term deal coming into focus until right before the deadline, which would be [July 15], which tells you that there's a real probability that George Pickens will not be there for the offseason program." 

Earlier in the week, Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer shared that he hadn't "pushed" Pickens to sign the franchise tender and participate in springtime workouts. Meanwhile, Seattle Seahawks star Jaxon Smith-Njigba reset the market for players at the position when he inked a four-year, $168.6M deal that included $120M guaranteed in March. There's no indication the Cowboys want to hand Pickens that lucrative an extension this offseason. 

Cowboys, George Pickens situation is "very tricky?"

"I just think it's set up right now to be a very tricky, challenging situation for both sides," Schefter continued. "What would be a fair long-term contract for George Pickens? I think the two sides would have differing ideas. He's not going to be there in the offseason program. He's not signing the franchise tender."

It's unknown if Pickens would forfeit money by missing games as a protest for remaining on the tag through September. For now, it appears that he will not be reporting to the Cowboys for work anytime soon.