Dallas Cowboys place franchise tag on WR George Pickens as Jerry Jones lauds his future

Dallas Cowboys applied a $27.3 million franchise tag to wide receiver George Pickens for the 2026 season after his career‑high 2025 performance of 93 receptions, 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns. Owner Jerry Jones praised Pickens, saying he could be a Cowboy for the rest of his career, and emphasized the player’s value to the team’s aspirations.

Pickens responded at the opening training‑camp press conference in Oxnard, California, expressing excitement about the comments and confidence in his agents to handle the contract situation. The former third‑round pick from the Pittsburgh Steelers has become Dallas’s leading receiver, forming a potent trio with quarterback Dak Prescott and fellow receiver CeeDee Lamb.