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Todd Archer
Multiple Authors
INDIANAPOLIS — With the Dallas Cowboys “leaning” towards utilizing the franchise tag on Pro Bowl wide receiver George Pickens, the team is cognizant of the possible repercussions of that decision, according to executive vice president Stephen Jones.
In the past, while infrequent, players have chosen to skip their team’s offseason programs, minicamp, and even parts of training camp after being tagged, something the Cowboys are aware of.
“It crosses your mind,” Jones said during the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis. “I mean, a lot of the guys we’ve tagged participated in everything, Dak [Prescott] leading the way. He played under two of them. He never missed anything. Hopefully, that’ll be the case here.”
The Cowboys must decide by March 3 whether to place the franchise tag on Pickens, which would amount to about $28 million. They are scheduled to meet with his agents this week in Indianapolis. Up to this point, there have been no talks between both parties.
From 2018 to 2023, the Cowboys applied the franchise tag annually: on DeMarcus Lawrence (twice), Prescott (twice), tight end Dalton Schultz, and running back Tony Pollard. The team successfully negotiated multiyear deals with Lawrence and Prescott after tagging them for the second time.
The last time Dallas secured a long-term deal for a player tagged for the first time was with wide receiver Dez Bryant in 2015.
“It can go either way,” Jones said. “So we’ll just continue to thoroughly analyze the situation and see what’s next.”
Recently, the Cowboys struck a three-year, $24 million deal with running back Javonte Williams. Last year at the combine, they negotiated an $80 million contract for defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa, who signed before free agency commenced.
Jones mentioned that he’s “never good at guessing” when such agreements will materialize. Previously, the Cowboys had extended talks with Prescott and CeeDee Lamb before the 2024 season, and last year saw similar negotiations with Micah Parsons before he was traded to the Green Bay Packers the week prior to the season.
“In the past, we’ve done deals with top players quickly,” Jones remarked. “yet, every agent has a different approach and strategy, making the negotiation processes unique.”
Dallas’ other Pro Bowl receiver, Lamb, ranks third in his position earnings at $34 million. The Cowboys can manage the salaries of both Pickens and Lamb, but the question remains whether it’s a prudent use of funds. Comparatively, the Cincinnati Bengals, with Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, and Tee Higgins, as well as the Philadelphia Eagles, with Jalen Hurts, A.J. Brown, and DeVonta Smith, have navigated similar high-cost scenarios.
“Those are all factors we’re considering, and we’ll make decisions based on our conclusions,” Jones reiterated, emphasizing the desire to retain Pickens. “What we need to accomplish defensively will greatly influence our choices… It will be an ongoing process.”
Even with the franchise tag on Pickens, Jones asserted that the Cowboys can “do everything we need to do” in free agency.
The team plans to restructure the contracts of Prescott, Lamb, Odighizuwa, and Tyler Smith in order to stay within the salary cap and create room for spending when free agency opens. The Cowboys have not made a significant free-agent acquisition since 2012, when cornerback Brandon Carr was signed to a five-year, $50 million contract.
With Williams and Pickens under contract, the Cowboys aim to bolster their defense in free agency, particularly under new coordinator Christian Parker.
“Each year presents different circumstances, and much will depend on what’s available and the perceived value,” Jones stated. “Decisions will be based on that. yet, we fully expect to be active in free agency this year.”
