George Pickens Shows Up for Cowboys Minicamp, Says He's Fine Playing on the Franchise Tag
The receiver skipped the voluntary work but reported for mandatory minicamp without hesitation, and Brian Schottenheimer liked what he saw.
George Pickens did not get the long-term deal he wanted from the Dallas Cowboys this offseason. He showed up to mandatory minicamp anyway, signed his $27.3 million franchise tag, and told reporters he is comfortable playing the 2026 season on it. The receiver caught passes from Dak Prescott on Tuesday and said he never seriously considered using an absence as leverage. For a player who could have made the offseason awkward, Pickens went out of his way to make it ordinary.
What did Pickens actually say about the franchise tag?
Pickens signed the one-year, $27.3 million franchise tag, a figure that is fully guaranteed for the coming season. The Cowboys announced before the draft that they would not negotiate a long-term contract with him this offseason, which would have given him an easy reason to stay away. Instead, he kept his message simple. "Like the tag and all that, it's just football first," Pickens said. He added that he plans to "let my agent worry about it really" when it comes to the contract side, and noted that he did not ask ownership why they chose to delay talks. The stance lines up with how he framed last year, when he said he prioritized football over the business of his situation.
Why does his showing up matter?
Pickens did not take part in the voluntary offseason program, which is fully within his rights and not unusual for a tagged player. Mandatory minicamp is different, and skipping it would have meant fines and a clear signal of frustration. Pickens reported without hesitation, worked through individual drills, and caught passes from Dak Prescott on Tuesday. He said he never considered sitting out to pressure negotiations. "Definitely play football first, kind of like I did last year," Pickens said. In a year when the contract talks have stalled, simply being on the field is the cooperative gesture that keeps the situation from turning combustible.
How did Brian Schottenheimer address it?
Schottenheimer, in his second year as the Cowboys head coach, did not dance around the topic when asked about Pickens reporting. He said the receiver is "in a really good spot" and pointed to the energy he brings to the building, adding that "his smile is infectious." The coach said he expects Pickens to be full-go once training camp opens in Oxnard. Coming off a first season in Dallas that ended without a playoff berth, Schottenheimer needs his offense intact and his best players engaged. Having Pickens present and upbeat, rather than absent and frustrated, removes one of the bigger potential distractions from the summer.
What does this mean for the Cowboys offense?
Dallas acquired Pickens from the Pittsburgh Steelers last offseason, and the move paid off immediately. In his first season with the Cowboys, Pickens caught 93 passes for 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns, both the catch and yardage totals career highs. Paired with CeeDee Lamb, he gives Prescott a second receiver who can win on the outside and stretch the field, the kind of duo that forces defenses to choose who to take away. We wrote earlier this offseason about the long-term decision Dallas faces between paying Lamb and paying Pickens. For now, the tag keeps that choice on hold while the on-field partnership continues. With Pickens working alongside Lamb and Prescott in minicamp, the Cowboys get to see the trio operate together without the overhang of an absence.
Players in this story
Sources
- ESPN: OK with franchise tag, George Pickens at Cowboys minicamp
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