The Dallas Cowboys boast one of the best wide receiver tandems in football with CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens. However, with Pickens being an impending free agent, that dynamic duo may not last much longer. That is, of course, unless the Cowboys find a way to bring him back for 2026 — and that is exactly what ESPN’s Dan Graziano expects them to do.
“I believe there’s a strong likelihood that the Cowboys franchise Pickens, assuming they remain as happy with him by the end of the season as they’ve been so far,” Graziano wrote. “That’s why it’s tough to answer a question like this at this point of the season: Many of the top potential free agents never hit the market because of extensions or franchise tags.”
A franchise tag on Pickens would cost Dallas about $29 million, but based on the way the 24-year-old has produced thus far, it would be worth it. In nine games this season, Pickens has hauled in 49 receptions for 764 yards and six touchdowns, averaging a robust 15.6 yards per catch. He has tallied at least 60 yards in seven of his nine contests and has finished with under 50 yards just once, which came in the Cowboys’ season opener.
Pickens was originally selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft and spent the first three years of his career with the Steelers. The University of Georgia product flashed immense talent in Pittsburgh, especially during his sophomore campaign when he caught 63 passes for 1,140 yards and five scores while leading the league with 18.1 yards per grab.
However, Pickens’ inconsistency and frustrating behavior led the Steelers to ultimately give up on him after his third season, trading him to Dallas in exchange for a third-round pick and a fifth-rounder. Pittsburgh also sent a sixth-rounder to the Cowboys as part of the deal.
Should the Cowboys allow Pickens to test free agency, he would be one of the most sought-after players on the market. But it doesn’t look like Jerry Jones and Co. will let this star pass-catcher get that far.
https://www.newsweek.com/sports/nfl/report-dallas-cowboys-expected-make-29-million-decision-george-pickens-11034112
