The Dallas Cowboys have confirmed that wide receiver George Pickens will play the 2026 season under a $27.3 million franchise tag. This decision comes after the 4 p.m. ET deadline for long-term contracts passed without a deal for Pickens, who had previously expressed readiness to play under the tag.

At just 25 years old, Pickens signed his franchise tender and is officially under contract for the upcoming season. The Cowboys made it clear during the April NFL Draft that they were not planning to negotiate a long-term contract, making a franchise tag the expected outcome.

In his own words, Pickens stated, "Like the tag and all that, it's just football first. So, definitely play football first, kind of like I did last year, and then worry about [the contract] ... Well, let my agent worry about it, really."

Pickens joined the Cowboys from the Pittsburgh Steelers ahead of the 2025 season, where he achieved career highs in several categories:

• Catches: 93
• Yards: 1,429
• Touchdowns: 9

With these impressive statistics, Pickens aims to build on his success as he prepares for the 2026 season on the franchise tag.