NFL executive warns Cowboys about George Pickens revolt related to controversial plan

All that's really certain regarding the situation involving the Dallas Cowboys and wide receiver George Pickens is that he recently signed his franchise tag worth roughly $27.3M for the 2026 season, and that he won't be receiving a multiyear contract from the club this spring or summer. 

A previous report indicated that the Cowboys are already prepared to retain Pickens' rights for the 2027 season via the franchise tag if he produces stellar numbers for the club this coming fall. For a piece published on Thursday, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler spoke with one unnamed NFL team executive who warned the Cowboys about possibly tagging Pickens again next offseason. 

Will the Cowboys eventually face a George Pickens revolt?

"Dallas is going to face a big decision because Pickens is set up to have another productive season, and the receiver market has skyrocketed," that executive said. "If they tag him again without the promise of a new deal, he could revolt."

Such a revolt may have already begun, as Pickens was not present for the Cowboys' first voluntary workout that followed his signing of the franchise tender. Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones previously made it known he expected Pickens would participate in some voluntary work. 

Pickens cannot be fined for missing any sessions until Dallas' mandatory minicamp gets underway on June 16. One would think the fact that he signed the tag means he'll report for those workouts, but a lot can happen between the second Thursday of May and the middle of June. 

Meanwhile, Fowler noted that tagging Pickens a second time would cost the Cowboys roughly $32.6M for the 2027 season. To compare, Seattle Seahawks star Jaxon Smith-Njigba reset the market for receivers when he inked a four-year, $168.6M deal that included $120M guaranteed earlier this offseason. 

Could the Cowboys' George Pickens situation still get ugly?

"I'm kind of surprised it didn't get ugly this offseason," the executive added about the situation involving Pickens and the Cowboys. "I understand the character stuff, but he produced at a ridiculous level last year. If he does it again, then he can hold their feet to the fire a little more. And they still have to be willing to hold that franchise tag number on their [2027] books, which isn't always easy."

For what it's worth, former NFL cornerback and current analyst Joe Haden thinks the Cowboys-Pickens saga could still get ugly before Dallas opens the upcoming regular season with a "Sunday Night Football" matchup versus the rival New York Giants on Sept. 13.