The Dallas Cowboys can never seem to have a normal offseason -- until now? The biggest question this offseason has been George Pickens. He recently signed the franchise tag, signaling that both sides have conceded that Pickens will not get a long-term deal yet.
Of course, Pickens wants to break the WR market, and all he has to do is give the same production and effort he gave in 2025. The Cowboys are just making sure they give a pay raise to the right guy.
Jon Machota of The Athletic went on the Cowboys Collective podcast to discuss Pickens' contract situation, and he gave Cowboys fans a reason to sigh in relief.
"I don't think he's going to be at offseason workouts, but I do expect him to be at training camp now. So, that's obviously of note for anyone that was worried about that situation dragging on for a while."
Cowboys fans can rest easy amid George Pickens franchise tag concerns
Offseason drama with the Dallas Cowboys. When has that happened before?
The NFL media has actually created more drama around the situation than the Cowboys themselves, but as Machota says, fans shouldn't be worried about anything "dragging on" here.
As many NFL insiders have pointed out, the Cowboys seem like they're most hesitant with Pickens long-term because of behavioral issues. Pickens already showed his worth in his "prove-it" season, but Jerry Jones just wants to see him do it again, assuming he shows good behavior.
His past antics weren't as much of a problem compared to Pittsburgh, but ESPN's Todd Archer got intel that Pickens was fined during the season. Not the news you want to hear, but if he proves that he can be focused on football, the investment is golden.
The franchise tag is the best security blanket for both sides. Understandably, Pickens wants to get paid like a top receiver on the market, but he's not quite there yet. The job is easier said than done, but if you're Pickens, just repeat what you did last season.
The Cowboys met Pickens at the perfect time. He excelled in Pittsburgh under weird QB circumstances, and he was still able to thrive with a 1,000+ yard season in 2023. Playing with a quarterback like Prescott has only elevated Pickens' game, putting up career highs in catches, yards and touchdowns.
With Brandon Aubrey getting paid as the highest kicker in NFL history, and Pickens signing the franchise tag, hopefully, the only drama now will be offseason battles and roster cuts. Cowboys fans, always keep your eyes open, but from Machota's words, it seems like you can rest nice and easy, for now, anyway!
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