The Dallas Cowboys faced plenty of criticism after placing wide receiver George Pickens on a franchise tag, instead of signing him to a long-term deal. Now, one ESPN analyst believes that the Cowboys made the right decision.

ESPN’s Seth Walder believes that keeping Pickens under the franchise tag was the biggest move by the Cowboys and favors the franchise’s decision not to extend his contract.

“After the wide receiver's exceptional 2025 season, the Cowboys applied the franchise tag but said they wouldn't negotiate a long-term deal with him,” Walder wrote in his June 30 article. “This was the right move. Handing him a new contract right now would be paying Pickens at the peak of his worth."

Pickens will play under the franchise tag ($27.3M) for the 2026 season. Though the franchise has time until July 15 to negotiate an extension, the Cowboys have remained firm on their stance of not extending him for a long-term deal.

Pickens enters the 2026 season after recording his best campaign with the Cowboys, posting 93 receptions for 1,429 receiving yards and nine touchdowns.

"And I can't help but think about Pickens falling out of favor in Pittsburgh - even with Mike Tomlin there - and wonder if there's a risk of that happening in Dallas, too," ESPN's Seth Walder wrote in his article. "Considering that, I don't see a great reason for Dallas to commit to him long-term before it has to. And it doesn't have to right now."

 Pickens was fined for his unsportsmanlike behavior and reported tardiness to team meetings, along with being criticized for his lack of effort while playing games with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

As the Cowboys expect Pickens to elevate his production on the field and maintain good conduct off the field, the speculation surrounding his future with the Cowboys continues to gain attention.

Cowboys still have options with George Pickens, says ESPN

ESPN's Dan Graziano discussed the possibility of keeping Pickens while letting go of WR CeeDee Lamb, as he believes the 2026 season could be the deciding factor for Pickens' deal.

"Is there a world in which Lamb, who has missed games due to injury each of the past two years and has just $7 million in guarantees on his contract beyond 2026, is the one they move on from, allowing them to keep Pickens?" Dan Graziano wrote in his ESPN article.

He further wrote about the possibility of keeping Pickens under the tag again in 2027 for $32.8M, which would eventually lead them to pay two WRs at their premium market value, with Lamb standing at $34M.

Graziano believes that the Cowboys could evaluate whether Pickens is worth another franchise tag or a long-term extension, based on his 2026 production.

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Written by

Archana Ramakrishnan

Edited by

Zaid Quraishi