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What Cowboys' George Pickens contract decision means for potential trade rumors
TL;DR
The Dallas Cowboys have decided to keep George Pickens for the 2026 NFL season under a franchise tag. This decision raises questions about potential trade rumors and future contract negotiations.
Key points
- Dallas Cowboys retain George Pickens for 2026 season
- Pickens will play under a franchise tag
- Stephen Jones indicates no long-term deal is forthcoming
Dallas CowboysGeorge Pickens
What Cowboys' George Pickens contract decision means for potential trade rumors originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Dallas Cowboys chose to keep George Pickens around for the 2026 NFL season.
But on a franchise tag, there's a lot of twists that could still arrive in this story.
Of note: Cowboys executive Stephen Jones told reporters on Wednesday that Pickens will play the season ahead on the tag, not on any kind of impending long-term deal that would still be negotiated.
That's far from the best vote of confidence.
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Could Cowboys trade George Pickens?
Pickens will be with Dallas when Week 1 rolls around, barring some kind of shocking offseason request or behavior.
But with no long-term deal, there's a chance Pickens isn't with the Cowboys by the end of the season.
Dallas will have a good offense and should score plenty of points, but the defense will have to step up to keep the record respectable.
If the Cowboys happen to scuffle to a bad record by the trade deadline, Pickens would become a trade candidate.
By that point, the franchise tag would essentially be operating as a one-year deal, an expiring contract. Those are the guys that get moved by bad teams, especially ones that don't plan on signing their guy back.
It's a bit of a bold move by the Cowboys not to latch Pickens into a new contract. But it could be good news for a different team down the road if trade potential turns into trade reality.
More NFL news:
Q&A
What does George Pickens' franchise tag mean for his future with the Cowboys?
George Pickens' franchise tag indicates that he will play the 2026 season without a long-term contract, suggesting uncertainty about his future with the team.
How does the Cowboys' decision on George Pickens affect trade rumors?
The decision to keep George Pickens on a franchise tag could fuel trade rumors, as it shows the Cowboys are not committing to a long-term deal at this time.
What did Cowboys executive Stephen Jones say about George Pickens' contract situation?
Stephen Jones confirmed that George Pickens will play the upcoming season on the franchise tag and that there are no immediate plans for a long-term contract.
