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Dallas Cowboys insider Bryan Broaddus suggested the team could wait until the deadline to place the franchise tag on wide receiver George Pickens.
The Dallas Morning News’ Calvin Watkins reported this week wide receiver George Pickens would like contract negotiations with the Dallas Cowboys to begin before the end of the month. Another insider this week, though, appeared to cast doubt over that potentially happening.
Cowboys insider Bryan Broaddus suggested on 105.3 The Fan in Dallas that the team isn’t in a rush to place the franchise tag on Pickens. The window for NFL teams to place the tag on players opened Tuesday.
“I’m getting the feeling that this tag thing might not get done anytime soon,” Broaddus said. “If you ask some people the questions about it, if you say, ‘Hey, would you guys consider carrying this tag all the way to the end? No rush, kind of a thing?’ The answers I get are like, ‘Yes.’”
Connecting the dots, this could be an issue for Pickens. Watkins reported Monday the wideout’s agents want to begin negotiations during the NFL combine.
The 2026 NFL combine will occur from February 26-March 1.
The deadline for NFL teams to place the franchise tag on players is March 3.
Cowboys Potential Delay in Placing Franchise Tag on George Pickens Cause for Alarm?
It’s important to note the Cowboys delaying their franchise tag placement on Pickens isn’t automatically a bad thing. Just because the team doesn’t use the tag immediately doesn’t mean negotiations can’t start.
Teams don’t use the tag to begin contract talks; teams use it to extend them.
The Cowboys will presumably need the franchise tag for Pickens this offseason for just that reason. Pundits don’t expect the two sides to reach a long-term agreement before 2026 NFL free agency.
If Dallas plans to begin negotiations on Pickens’s timeline, then there’s little reason for concern. The Cowboys could then place the franchise tag on Pickens if an agreement isn’t reach by March 3.
The Cowboys and Pickens can bypass all the drama with a long-term agreement before free agency.
The concern, though, is if the Cowboys plan to drag their feet with the tag placement, they could do the same with negotiations. Dallas’s recent contract talk history with star Micah Parsons also has fans, players and pundits around the organization on edge.
Market Value for Pickens in 2026 NFL Offseason
Pickens is reaching free agency at just the right time for him.
During his first season with the Cowboys, he posted 93 receptions, 1,429 receiving yards and nine touchdowns in 17 games. With those statistics, Pickens earned second-team All-Pro and Pro Bowl nominations.
In his first three seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Pickens showcased his obvious talent. But the Steelers offense and immaturity appeared to hold back Pickens statistically.
With that no longer (mostly) the case for the receiver in Dallas, he should cash in this offseason.
Spotrac projected Pickens to be worth $122.4 million overall on a four-year deal. That would pay the wideout an average annual salary of $30.6 million.
Interestingly, NFL salary experts have projected the franchise tag for a wide receiver this offseason to be less. Receivers on the tag are expected to make about $28 million in 2026.
Dave Holcomb is a sports reporter covering the NFL and MLB for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Pittsburgh Steelers, Philadelphia Eagles and Detroit Lions. Originally from Pittsburgh, Holcomb has covered college and professional sports for outlets including FanSided, Rotowire and Yardbarker. More about Dave Holcomb
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