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Cowboys Tag WR George Pickens at $27.3M for 2026

7/16/2026

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Summary

Pickens Franchise-Tagged

George Pickens will play 2026 on a $27.3 million franchise tag.
The Cowboys placed the tag in February and barred any trade before the April deadline.
Pickens signed the tender in July and attended mandatory minicamp.
He posted 93 catches, 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns in 2025, earning Pro Bowl and second-team All-Pro honors.
The tag makes him the 17th-highest paid NFL wide receiver for 2026.

Summary

Cowboys Franchise-Tag

Cowboys have used the franchise tag ten times on seven players in 15 years, the most in NFL.
Anthony Spencer was tagged in 2012-13 and never signed long-term.
DeMarcus Lawrence was tagged in 2018-19 and signed a long-term deal in April.
Dak Prescott was tagged in 2020, played that year, and got four-year extension after 2021 re-tag.
Dalton Schultz (2022) and Tony Pollard (2023) spent a season on the tag, with Pollard’s case called improbable.

History

Historical Context

The NFL introduced the franchise tag in the 1993 CBA, giving each team one exclusive or non-exclusive tag per season to retain an unrestricted free agent at a salary at least the average of the five highest-paid players at his position. The Dallas Cowboys have used the tag on players, leveraging its guaranteed one-year, multi-million-dollar payout to manage salaries and push for long-term contracts.

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Pickens Franchise-Tagged

George Pickens will play 2026 on a $27.3 million franchise tag.
The Cowboys placed the tag in February and barred any trade before the April deadline.
Pickens signed the tender in July and attended mandatory minicamp.
He posted 93 catches, 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns in 2025, earning Pro Bowl and second-team All-Pro honors.
The tag makes him the 17th-highest paid NFL wide receiver for 2026.

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