Aug 7, 2026, 4:16 AM CUT

Inside the Dallas Cowboys' history of all 12 tags in the NFL universe

LANDOVER, MD - NOVEMBER 24: Cowboys safety Donovan Wilson 6 performs a human bowling group celebration after the defense recovered a fumble during the Dallas Cowboys versus Washington Commanders National Football League game at Northwest Stadium on November 24, 2024 in Landover, MD. Photo by Randy Litzinger/Icon Sportswire NFL, American Football Herren, USA NOV 24 Cowboys at Commanders EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon9662411240456

The Dallas Cowboys have relied on the franchise tag as one of their roster-building tools. The team recently placed the tag on wide receiver George Pickens during the offseason, after his breakout 2025 campaign. He is the 12th franchise-tagged player in the franchise's history.

The Cowboys first used the franchise tag ($4.9M) on offensive lineman Flozell Adams in 2002. The move paid off, as Adams later signed a five-year extension and earned five Pro Bowl selections over the next six seasons. This set the blueprint for the Cowboys to use the franchise tag as a cautious approach to buy time before negotiating long-term deals.

“For Pickens, he's really only had one great season so the Cowboys likely wouldn't mind him playing on the tag to prove it again,” according to an article by DallasCowboys.com staff writers on April 16. “The other thing that makes this one unique is that Pickens, even with the $27 million tag, is not the highest-paid player at this position for the Cowboys, considering CeeDee Lamb's contract is over $34 million per season.”

ARLINGTON, TX - SEPTEMBER 28: Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens 3 reacts to a dropped pass during the game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Green Bay Packers on September 28, 2025 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Photo by Matthew Pearce/Icon Sportswire NFL, American Football Herren, USA SEP 28 Packers at Cowboys EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon1692509283146

According to the article by DallasCowboys.com staff writers, compiled by staff writer Nick Eatman, the Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott remains one of the most notable franchise-tag cases.

The Cowboys tagged him in both 2020 and 2021 after contract negotiations for a long-term deal failed.

Before Prescott played his second season under the tag, the team finalized a four-year, $160M extension that cemented his position as the franchise quarterback.

However, not every tagged player followed the same path. Linebacker Anthony Spencer became the first Cowboys player to receive the tag in consecutive seasons (2012 and 2013), but injuries limited his second year.

Meanwhile, safety Ken Hamlin quickly turned his 2008 tag into a six-year, $39m contract.

Wide receiver Dez Bryant also signed a long-term extension soon after he was placed on the tag in the early 2015 offseason. While pass rusher DeMarcus Lawrence landed a franchise-record $105M contract in 2019 after being tagged.

The Cowboys franchise-tagged tight end Dalton Schultz (2022) and running back Tony Pollard (2023) in the recent era, adding to a list that now includes Pickens.

Jerry Jones sees long-term future for George Pickens despite franchise tag

The Cowboys owner, Jerry Jones, made it clear during the training camp presser that placing Pickens on the franchise tag doesn't change the team's long-term vision for the star wide receiver.

"Make no mistake about it, George could be a Cowboy for the rest of his career, and that’d be a long time," Jones said, per X post of Jon Machota on July 29. "Make no mistake about it. This (franchise tag) just fit for us, and thank goodness it fit for him and we got it done.”

Jones believes that another breakout season from Pickens alongside WR CeeDee Lamb could strengthen the Cowboys' Super Bowl contention, while also putting the wideout in an even stronger position when his contract situation is revisited.

Will George Pickens become the next Cowboys player to turn a franchise tag into a blockbuster extension? Tell us what you think.

Written by

Archana Ramakrishnan

Edited by

Zaid Quraishi