Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens. Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

George Pickens unlikely to sign franchise tag with Cowboys

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports | By Grey Papke | Last updated Feb 28, 2026 9:06 AM ET

The Dallas Cowboys have used their franchise tag on wide receiver George Pickens, but it does not sound like he has any intention of actually playing on it.

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported from the NFL Combine Friday that it is unlikely Pickens will report to the team without a long-term contract. That means the wide receiver is not expected to sign the tag.

“I do not expect to see Pickens in the facility unless and until there is a long-term deal. Don’t expect him to sign the tag yet,” Rapoport said.

Rapoport also noted that it is not impossible that another team might come in with a big trade offer for Pickens and sign him to a long-term deal instead. That has been suggested before as well.

From our Combine coverage on @NFLNetwork: The #Cowboys officially franchise tagged WR George Pickens and all that it means. pic.twitter.com/FrvyRDzgaS
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 27, 2026

In other words, the Pickens situation is far from resolved, though this cannot come as a huge surprise to the Cowboys. They essentially took this step to ensure he would not hit the open market, and it gives them several months to try to work out a long-term deal with their standout wide receiver.

Pickens is coming off a breakout year in Dallas. He caught 93 passes for 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns, and should command a significant salary from the Cowboys or someone else.

This article first appeared on Larry Brown Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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