Cowboys Tag George Pickens
The Dallas Cowboys have placed a nonexclusive franchise tag on star wide receiver George Pickens, signaling their intent to retain him while allowing for potential negotiations with other teams. The Denver Broncos are still basking in their biggest comeback win in a decade — a 21-17 stunner over the reigning champion Philadelphia Eagles.
The franchise tag for a wide receiver is projected to be worth approximately $28 million for the 2026 season. The non-exclusive tag allows George Pickens to negotiate with other teams, but Dallas retains the right to match any offer; if they decline, they receive two first-round draft picks as compensation. Pickens earned the lucrative tag after a stellar first season in Dallas, setting career highs with 93 catches, 1,429 receiving yards, and nine touchdowns. This performance, which ranked third in the NFL for receiving yards, earned him second-team All-Pro honors. The Cowboys and Pickens' representatives have until July 15 to negotiate a long-term contract. The Cowboys acquired Pickens from the Pittsburgh Steelers in May 2025 for a 2026 third-round pick and a 2027 fifth-round pick. The 2022 second-round draft pick out of Georgia played the first three years of his career on a rookie deal that paid him a total of $6.8 million. This marks the 11th time the Cowboys have used the franchise tag. The last player to sign a multi-year deal after a first-time tag with Dallas was wide receiver Dez Bryant back in 2015. More recently, players like tight end Dalton Schultz (2022) and running back Tony Pollard (2023) played on the tag before leaving in free agency the following year. The Broncos' recent dramatic victory was a 33-32 thriller against the New York Giants on October 19, 2025, not the Eagles. Denver entered the fourth quarter trailing 19-0 and was down 26-8 with less than six minutes remaining in the game. Denver scored 33 points in the final quarter, the second-most in a fourth quarter in NFL history. Quarterback Bo Nix became the first player in league history to record two passing touchdowns and two rushing touchdowns in a fourth quarter. The 19-point comeback was one of the largest in the history of the Broncos franchise. The victory was especially poignant as it occurred on the same day the team honored the late Demaryius Thomas, who died at age 33, by posthumously inducting him into the team's Ring of Fame.
