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Cowboys Tag Pickens, Eye Trade; Draft Projects Smith, Green

7/2/2026

40 5 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

The Dallas Cowboys placed wide receiver George Pickens on the 2026 franchise tag.
Jerry Jones intends to trade Pickens before the 2027 draft.
Mock draft analyst Mike Moraitis projects Carter Smith in round 1 and Elijah Green in round 3, noting Green’s five interceptions last season.
Moraitis also lists Texas wide receiver Ryan Wingo in round 2, noting 54 catches for 834 yards in 2025 and concerns about drops.

History

Historical Context

After the NFL introduced a hard salary cap in 1994 ($34.6 million per team) and the 2011 CBA set the cap at $120 million, the league’s franchise-tag provision—unchanged since the 1990s—has let owners lock up elite receivers. Dallas owner Jerry Jones used the tag on Dez Bryant in 2011 and again on George Pickens in 2024, echoing decades-long roster-control tactics.

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Story summary

The Dallas Cowboys placed wide receiver George Pickens on the 2026 franchise tag.
Jerry Jones intends to trade Pickens before the 2027 draft.
Mock draft analyst Mike Moraitis projects Carter Smith in round 1 and Elijah Green in round 3, noting Green’s five interceptions last season.
Moraitis also lists Texas wide receiver Ryan Wingo in round 2, noting 54 catches for 834 yards in 2025 and concerns about drops.

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