Most NFL stars treat the franchise tag like a restriction, but George Pickens just accepted it fully. And NFL insider Nick Wright was quite shocked by Pickens' decision to sign the franchise tag with the Cowboys. 

Despite the lump sum of money that would make Pickens' salary a guaranteed $27.3 million, Wright, talking on First Things First, was astonished because of the circumstances under which it was agreed.

"I’m stunned, and I want to give George Pickens credit. I didn’t see it coming, and I give the player a ton of credit. It’s only a positive for the Cowboys that this happened."

The Cowboys didn't want to let him go, courtesy of his flair in the first season for them. The 25-year-old caught 93 passes on 137 targets for 1,429 yards with nine touchdowns, all career bests, in 17 games (15 starts) in his first year with Dallas. But even then, there are things that Pickens would miss out on, as Wright continued.

"What he gives up is free next few months. He now has to show up to minicamp and any mandatory things in training camp." 

According to Wright, now the idea of skipping practices and offseason training camps is out of the question since he has given his acknowledgement. The leverage he had now is long gone. But the question still remains whether the Cowboys wanted George Pickens to stay or are waiting and willing to trade him.

Cowboys COO Stephen Jones had something to say about this earlier this week.  

Are the Cowboys Thinking Of Trading Pickens? 

Following Day 1 of the 2026 NFL Draft, Stephen Jones delivered his take via the official Dallas Cowboys press conference. Speaking from the team's headquarters in Frisco, Texas, he aimed to shut down trade speculation.

"We have no intention of moving George. We’re fired up about him signing his (tag), because it means he’s ready to come in here and get to work. … We have zero intention of moving (him)," said Jones.

Pickens became the first player since Dalton Schultz (2022) to be put on a franchise tag. He had joined the Cowboys last year in May when Pittsburgh traded him.

Though the deal is not a long-term contract and only locks him in for a year, it would still be beneficial for the team at large. Working alongside CeeDee Lamb as his primary partner in the Cowboys' passing attack and TE Jake Ferguson, the Cowboys' offense would become significantly more difficult to defend.

Do you think the Cowboys will retain him after this season?

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Written by

Sourav Ganguly

Edited by

Zaid Quraishi