Wide receiver George Pickens is set to play the 2026 season under the Dallas Cowboys' franchise tag, but former NFL linebacker Emmanuel Acho isn't convinced the star receiver will actually take the field.

.Ahead of training camp, Acho questioned whether Pickens would play without a long-term contract during an episode of the Speakeasy podcast on July 16.

“Now, again, until I see George Pickens lace up a game, even in preseason, not regular season... I'm still not convinced that he's playing in Dallas on this tag,” Emmanuel Acho said in the Speakeasy podcast. “I got to see it to believe it, because I haven't seen it before in the history of that agency, recent history."

Emmanuel Acho said on the Speakeasy podcast (YouTube @speakeasy) that Pickens made a "gigantic mistake" by deciding to play under the franchise tag for the 2026 season, raising doubts about his attendance during the preseason and regular season.

Acho raised concerns about the Cowboys' franchise-tagging Pickens again, arguing that another tag would force the star wideout to play without long-term security, even if he is injured.

“The dilemma with the franchise tag...you mess up an ankle, a hamstring, a quad, anything - that money you were going to get might not be there again," Acho said. "You're not a quarterback, you're not Dak Prescott, who can fracture his leg and still set a record-breaking deal.”

Acho argued that a wide receiver may not receive the same level of financial security after an injury, as quarterbacks such as Dak Prescott, who landed a record-setting contract ($60M annually) despite suffering a major leg injury.

While Pickens reported for mandatory minicamp, eliminating immediate hold-in speculation, Acho believes that doesn't guarantee he'll remain with the team throughout the franchise-tag season.

Louis Riddick predicts George Pickens' Cowboys exit after 2026 season

During an episode of ESPN's Get Up on July 15, former NFL executive and analyst Louis Riddick said that the Cowboys are not yet comfortable signing Pickens to a long-term deal based on his market value.

“To me, this sounds like a situation that is setting up for 2026 to be George’s last season in Dallas,” Riddick said during the ESPN's Get Up episode on YouTube (@espn). “George kind of realizes that, and that’s why he [Pickens] said, ‘Hey, look, I’m gonna sign a tender going here and kind of rip it up this year and let the chips fall where they may in 2027.”

Pickens enters the 2026 season after his career-best campaign in 2025, where he recorded 93 receptions for 1,429 receiving yards and nine touchdowns, earning his first Pro Bowl nod.

Even after a Pro Bowl campaign, Riddick believes Dallas remains hesitant to make the long-term financial commitment Pickens is seeking, leaving his future with the franchise beyond 2026 far from certain.

What are your thoughts on George Pickens' future in the upcoming season? Let us know in the comments.

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Written by

Archana Ramakrishnan

Edited by

Rudra Dubey