Pro Bowler George Pickens is set to play under the franchise tag for the 2026 season, and one analyst believes the wideout’s future may depend upon the future contract of the team’s linebacker DeMarvion Overshown. 

ESPN's Todd Archer believes the Cowboys could face a dilemma to either franchise-tag Pickens or Overshown in 2027, as there can be only one franchise tag on a team.

"If Pickens has another Pro Bowl season and Overshown remains healthy and produces, it would make for an interesting dilemma because there would be only one franchise tag to go around," Archer wrote on June 25. "Oh, and both players have the same agent, David Mulugheta."

Archer wrote in the same article that the Cowboys have been firm about not extending Pickens on a long-term deal and have no plans to trade him.

Pickens had a career-best campaign with the Cowboys in 2025, where he posted 93 receptions for 1,429 receiving yards and nine touchdowns, earning his first Pro Bowl nod.

The Cowboys could tag Pickens again in 2027, but another pending free agent may force their hand.

"The only concern now is whether another pending free agent steps up and forces the team to consider using the tag on him," per Randy Gurzi of Sports Illustrated. "DeMarvion Overshown is the perfect franchise tag candidate."

Overshown enters the 2026 season healthy, after missing out on 32 possible regular-season games due to consistent injuries during his two years with the Cowboys.

He has posted a total of 118 tackles (71 solo), one interception, four passes defended, and five sacks for 19 games played since 2024.

Overshown suffered a torn ACL in his left knee during a preseason game against the Seattle Seahawks, missing out on his entire rookie season in 2023.

During a Week 15 game in 2024 against the Cincinnati Bengals, he tore his ACL, MCL, and PCL, making him sit out for the rest of the season and the first 10 weeks of the 2025 season.

With both Pickens and Overshown entering contract years, the Cowboys may eventually have to choose which key player to prioritize if both continue to produce at a higher level.

Meanwhile, Overshown is set to embrace the challenge of wearing the green dot and serve as the MIKE linebacker.

Green dot challenge awaits Overshown in pivotal 2026 season

Overshown expressed excitement in taking up the responsibility of wearing a green dot, and he believes this role could lead the Cowboys' defense to the next level.

"I've been wanting to be MIKE for the longest, since my rookie year," Overshown said, per Tommy Yarrish of DallasCowboys.com. "I felt like it was going to come to a time where I wore the "C" on my chest and I had the green dot, and now I've got it. I'm excited."

MIKE linebacker basically means the middle linebacker. He is the only defensive player who can hear the coach’s play calls directly in his helmet.

Overshown believes that his speed and ability to 'cover ground sideline-to-sideline' could make his role as the middle linebacker lighter, as he can gain more tackles from both directions.

Overshown played as the weakside linebacker in the previous season, and he believes that the MIKE linebacker fit him best according to the new defensive coordinator Christian Parker's 3-4 scheme.

Do you think Overshown can shine as an MIKE linebacker?

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Written by

Archana Ramakrishnan

Edited by

Zaid Quraishi