George Pickens Breaks Silence After Cowboys Let Contract Deadline Pass

The contract extension deadline has officially passed for Dallas Cowboys star wide receiver George Pickens, as he will play the 2026 season under his $27.3 million franchise tender.

Pickens was one of four players to receive the franchise tag this offseason, but he was the only one not to work out a long-term deal before the July 15 deadline. Quarterback Daniel Jones inked a two-year, $88 million contract in March with the Indianapolis Colts.

Running back Breece Hall worked out a three-year, $43.5 million deal with the New York Jets in May. Meanwhile, tight end Kyle Pitts Sr. signed a three-year, $54 million contract with the Atlanta Falcons in June.

Since Pickens signed the franchise tender, there hadn’t been any significant movement toward a new deal. It had led him to voice last month that he was prepared to play under that designation in 2026.

“Like the tag and all that, it’s just football first,” Pickens said after the first day of mandatory minicamp via ESPN. “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 is coming off his best individual campaign, where he set career highs across the board with 93 receptions, 1,429 receiving yards, and nine touchdowns. However, it clearly wasn’t enough for the Cowboys to work toward a new, lucrative deal.

Want $250 to bet on the NFL?

Sign up today!

This won’t be the first time that the Cowboys have allowed players to play under the franchise tag, as quarterback Dak Prescott, defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence, tight end Dalton Schultz, and running back Tony Pollard have previously done so. Prescott and Lawrence both garnered long-term deals after being franchise tagged for a second time, while Schultz and Pollard left through free agency after one season under the franchise tag.