Dallas Cowboys CEO Stephen Jones. Tim Heitman-Imagn Images

Cowboys' Stephen Jones has bad news for George Pickens

By Ernesto Cova | Last updated Apr 14, 2026 5:34 PM ET

The Dallas Cowboys didn't want to risk losing star WR George Pickens in free agency.

They used the franchise tag to prevent him from hitting the open market, even knowing that it might lead to some long and rough negotiations.

Earlier reports suggest that Pickens will ultimately refuse to play under the franchise tag if he doesn't get a new deal, thus fueling rumors about a potential trade.

Nevertheless, Cowboys EVP Stephen Jones has some bad news for the Georgia product. So far, there have been no takers.

No one has reached out to trade for George Pickens

"Stephen Jones said on 105.3 The Fan that so far the Cowboys have 'had no one call with interest in George Pickens,' regarding a potential trade," Cowboys insider Todd Archer shared on X.

Stephen Jones said on @1053thefan that so far the Cowboys have “had no one call with interest in George Pickens,” regarding a potential trade.
— Todd Archer (@toddarcher) April 14, 2026

Pickens may not have as much leverage in these negotiations as initially thought.

Granted, this could all change after the NFL Draft and when the deadline to reach a new deal (July 15) zooms in, but so far, it looks like teams are focused on the WR-heavy class of 2026.

Pickens is as talented as they come, and he has yet to reach his prime. He's coming off the best season of his career, and his chemistry with Dak Prescott was seamless.

That said, he also has some well-documented baggage and character issues, and history has proved that those players rarely get more mature after securing life-changing money.

Also, the Cowboys have already committed a combined $60 million to Prescott and CeeDee Lamb for next season, so they might not be able/willing to accommodate another long-term contract for now.

Whether Pickens will end up playing under the tag remains to be seen, but unless another team comes knocking at one point, he may not have another choice.

Ernesto Cova

Ernesto is a bilingual (English-Spanish) sports writer with over eight years of experience covering major leagues such as the NBA, NFL, and MLB. Ernesto’s work focuses on providing insightful, up-to-date coverage of sports, blending his expertise in sports psychology with a passion for analyzing player performance, team dynamics, and trade developments across various sports leagues

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