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Cowboys Tag WR George Pickens, $27.3 M Deal Deadline

4/23/2026

44 4 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

The Dallas Cowboys placed a franchise tag on wide receiver George Pickens, valued at $27.3 million and requiring a long-term contract by July 15.
Executive vice president Stephen Jones said the tag ends contract talks but the relationship with agent David Mulugheta remains super cordial.
Pickens, who posted a career-best 93 catches, 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns, has not signed an offer sheet and may skip the offseason program.

History

Historical Context

The NFL introduced the franchise tag system in 1993 to help teams retain key players amid rising salaries. This mechanism allows teams to offer a one-year contract based on the average of the top five salaries at a player's position. The Dallas Cowboys recently tagged George Pickens for $27.3 million, reflecting ongoing strategies to manage player contracts and financial constraints in the league.

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Story summary

The Dallas Cowboys placed a franchise tag on wide receiver George Pickens, valued at $27.3 million and requiring a long-term contract by July 15.
Executive vice president Stephen Jones said the tag ends contract talks but the relationship with agent David Mulugheta remains super cordial.
Pickens, who posted a career-best 93 catches, 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns, has not signed an offer sheet and may skip the offseason program.

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