Feb. 9, 2026, 4:46 a.m. ET

NFL free agency is just over a month away, but some teams are already preparing. The Dallas Cowboys have arguably the top free agent available in wide receiver George Pickens, but do not plan on allowing him to hit the open market.

Per a report from ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Cowboys will place the franchise tag on Pickens. If Pickens plays on the tag in 2026, he will earn around $28 million.

Dallas acquired Pickens from the Pittsburgh Steelers last offseason for a 2026 third-round pick and a 2027 fifth-round pick. The Cowboys also received a 2027 sixth-round selection in the trade. Pickens would have his best NFL season, playing all 17 games, recording 93 receptions for 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns. He was named to the Pro Bowl and also selected as a second-team All-Pro.

Teams can begin applying the franchise tag on February 17 until the March 3 deadline.

Owner/GM Jerry Jones has made it clear that the Cowboys want to re-sign Pickens, despite quarterback Dak Prescott ($74 million) and fellow wide receiver CeeDee Lamb ($38 million) having significantly high cap numbers for 2026.

Expert NFL picks: Exclusive betting insights only at USA TODAY.

The Cowboys could also trade Pickens after franchising him, something NFL insider Ian Rapoport brought up as a possibility on Sunday.

“The Cowboys have shown a willingness to trade their star players for significant draft pick compensation,” Rapoport said on NFL GameDay Morning, via Bobby Kownack of NFL.com, alluding to the trade of Micah Parsons to the Packers. “Maybe those players have the same agent in David Mulugheta. I’m just saying, it’s an interesting situation to consider.”

Pickens being off the market impacts every team looking for receiver help, including the Washington Commanders. Washington has only three receivers under contract for next season — Terry McLaurin, Luke McCaffrey and Jaylin Lane. Deebo Samuel is a free agent, and Washington could be looking for a more well-rounded receiver to complement McLaurin in the starting lineup.

Alec Pierce, Romeo Doubs and Rashid Shaheed are expected to be the top receivers available, but Pierce could also be a tag candidate for the Colts. San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, a former college teammate of quarterback Jayden Daniels, is also expected to be available.

Regardless, Dallas’ decision to franchise Pickens takes a top option off the market.