Sources: Cowboys will place franchise tag on George Pickens; here's what's next

"The Dallas Cowboys have officially signaled their intent to place the franchise tag on star wide receiver George Pickens. By applying this designation, the front office ensures that one of their most important offensive weapons remains under Cowboys control and prevents other teams from entering a bidding war for his services. It is a strategic move that reflects both his value and the team's desire to maintain a strong offense."

"Since arriving in Dallas, Pickens has given the Cowboys offense a double dose of goodness at wide receiver. He racked up career highs in essentially everything, even outproducing the team's original wide receiving star, CeeDee Lamb, albeit Lamb missed a few games. Pickens ability to track deep balls and win contested catches has provided a massive boost to the Cowboys' offense, making him a favorite target of Dak Prescott in high-pressure situations."

"The franchise tag is frequently used as a placeholder to keep prized possessions off the open market while both parties negotiate a long-term extension. Prescott serves as a prime example of this tactic, as he played under the tag before eventually signing a record-breaking deal that solidified his future with the franchise. This mechanism allows the team to protect its assets from the chaos of free agency while the negotiating parties figure out the contract details."

The Dallas Cowboys have signaled intent to place the franchise tag on wide receiver George Pickens to keep him under team control and block outside bids. Pickens posted career highs after arriving in Dallas and outproduced CeeDee Lamb while Lamb missed several games. Pickens excels at tracking deep balls and winning contested catches, becoming a Dak Prescott favorite on high-pressure throws. The franchise tag can serve as a placeholder while negotiating a long-term extension, as with Prescott, or as a one-year evaluation to test whether high-level performance is repeatable. The tag ensures roster stability and protects key offensive assets.

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