On February 27, 2026, the Dallas Cowboys placed a franchise tag on the star wide receiver, George Pickens.

Michael Irvin had some thoughts on the George Pickens situation. This is what the three-time Super Bowl champion had to say. 

On his YouTube channel, Irvin said, “George knew this was coming; everybody knew it was coming, because they couldn’t get a deal done.” Irvin offers a different perspective than what everyone is saying about this situation. 

Clearly, Pickens and his agent are playing the waiting game to strike a better deal by the deadline. The former wide receiver refers to Puca Nacua, a fellow wide receiver from the Los Angeles Rams, who will begin talks over a new contract. 

Irvin also said, “I’m waiting on guys like Puka Nacua, who’s working on a new deal too, and that’s going to raise the level.”  

Irvin believes that not everything bad is going to come out of placing the franchise tag on Pickens. “When that franchise tag got placed officially, it gives us a whole new round of stuff to stir,” said Irvin. 

The one franchise only wide receiver also seemed a little unhappy with the way Jerry Jones is handling business when it comes to fellow wide receiver George Pickens. Irvin said, “Jerry got $15 billion, you know what I’m saying.” 

As for the latest, there is still no update on Pickens’s contract. Both parties have just a few months to agree, or Pickens will play on the tag provided he does not get traded. 

How badly does this franchise need George Pickens?

Everyone knows how bad the 2025 season was for the Dallas Cowboys. Also, there was light at the end of the tunnel for some players. One of them was wide receiver George Pickens. 

The 52nd overall pick started his career with the Steelers. After three seasons at Pittsburgh, the wide receiver was traded to the Cowboys. 

In the 2025 season, Pickens was named a Pro Bowler and was also added to the Second-team All-Pro. He finished the 2025 season with 1,429 yards, 93 receptions, and nine touchdowns.

The Cowboys already have an elite WR in CeeDee Lamb; retaining Pickens would only make the offense scarier. 

As for Dak Prescott, the quarterback had already talked about how important Pickens was for Dallas.

“The guy out here who doesn’t have a contract. It doesn’t matter, whichever way that they got to do it, he’s an important piece of this offense, an important piece of what we’re trying to do. I’ll leave it to those guys."

It would be important for the Cowboys to retain Pickens at any cost, right, Dallas fans? Let us know in the comments!

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Written by

Samvruth Raj

Edited by

Kalp Thaker