The Dallas Cowboys received some good news after the 2026 NFL Draft, with breakout star wide receiver George Pickens officially inking his franchise tender .

By signing the franchise tag, , Pickens is guaranteed $27.3 million for the 2026 NFL season .

The bad news for Pickens is that he will need to bet on himself and play without a long-term deal, because the team has no plans to negotiate a new contract. That was confirmed by Cowboys CEO Stephen Jones before the draft, as he revealed the team plans for Pickens to play on the tag .

While some may view that as a risky move, considering how the public contract saga with Micah Parsons played out a season ago , the relationship between Pickens and the Cowboys appears to be strong, with the team publicly voicing its desire to have Pickens as part of the long-term plans.

Why Dallas Is Handling George Pickens Correctly

— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) May 1, 2026

NFL insider Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated discussed the team's plan for Pickens entering the…