George Pickens’ Future with Cowboys Up in The Air as Franchise Tag Remains Unsigned

The Dallas Cowboys are playing the waiting game with star receiver George Pickens before handing him a long-term contract.

George Pickens’ Future with Cowboys Up in The Air as Franchise Tag Remains Unsigned

George Pickens' franchise tag remains unsigned (Image via Underdog/X)

In Short
  • George Pickens has not yet signed his $27.3 million franchise tag, leaving his future uncertain.
  • He is seeking a long-term contract or a trade from the Dallas Cowboys.
  • The Cowboys have added veteran WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling to bolster their receiving unit amid Pickens' situation.

The Dallas Cowboys enjoyed a fruitful draft haul, and many were quick to assign them as Super Bowl contenders. Now, though, they have a new headache in the form of George Pickens.

The franchise offered the 25-year-old a non-exclusive franchise tag with the intention of allowing him to scour the market for better offers.

They felt that if he indeed got a better deal elsewhere, and the Cowboys did not match it, they would get two first-round picks in return. Jerry Jones has been intentional over the past year when trying to garner as much draft capital as possible.

The flip side of it is that in the event no other team takes an interest in the 2025 Pro Bowler, he would have no leverage and accept whatever the Cowboys had on offer.

But it is rarely that simple, as players can still force their way into getting better deals. One way players show their intent is by not signing the tag. As per ESPN’s Todd Archer, George Pickens has yet to sign his $27.3 million tag.

Archer’s colleague, Jeremy Fowler, added that the wideout’s agents had confirmed via email to the Dallas Cowboys that their client would sign the tag.

Now this new scenario throws his future up in the air. So far, with no interest from other teams, the only way he can play is either to accept that tender or to force the Cowboys to trade him.

George Pickens gives Cowboys ultimatum

Before this news about George Pickens not signing his non-exclusive franchise tag yet, ESPN’s Adam Schefter appeared on The Pat McAfee Show. There, he was asked about the current state of negotiations, to which he replied:

George Pickens wants a long-term contract
George Pickens wants a long-term contract (Image via Nick/X)

He wants a long-term contract, or he would like a trade.

Adam Schefter revealed

Now that he has yet to put pen to paper on that tender, it seems the Georgia Bulldog’s ultimatum to the Cowboys stands. Either give him a long-term contract or trade him away.

Schefter also explained that the Cowboys are well aware of the talent that is George Pickens. What they want to see is if he can show the maturity that was the primary problem that stopped him from blossoming with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

A few days before the draft, EVP Stephen Jones had made it clear that they had not received any substantial interest from other teams in the mercurial wide receiver.

That means they, too, are playing the waiting game as they did during Micah Parsons’ contract negotiations. Schefter believes the Cowboys and Pickens will be in trade conversations all summer.

Cowboys add to WR unit

While George Pickens‘ situation becomes a waiting game, it does not mean that the Cowboys will not prepare for the worst. If they lose the Alabama native to a trade, they may not receive a wideout in return.

Veteran WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling is signing a one-year deal with the Cowboys, per source.

Tom Pelissero revealed on X

Getting a veteran wideout is important for a unit that has had small lapses of concentration throughout the season. The Cowboys’ offense can stretch any defense it faces, but to do so, they need a leader with a voice loud enough to keep the unit calm.

With the franchise aiming to hoist the Vince Lombardi Trophy at SoFi Stadium early next year, having a two-time Super Bowl champion in the receiver room was good business.

The Cowboys are on a roll after having one of the better draft hauls. Along with their roster and coaching staff moves, they are primed to make a run for the Seattle Seahawks’ crown. But they need George Pickens’ dynamic play to get there.

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