George Pickens

Dallas Cowboys
Wide Receiver #14
FANTASY NEWS STATS INJURY

George Pickens News RotoBaller

Cowboys Plan to Move George Pickens Around More on Offense

Dallas Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer said on Thursday that he is planning to move star wide receiver George Pickens around the formation more in 2026, per the team's official website. Pickens was absent from organized team activities in the spring after failing to reach a long-term contract extension with the organization, but he is present this week for mandatory minicamp. The 25-year-old former second-round pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2022 out of the University of Georgia broke out in 2025 after the Dallas Cowboys acquired him from Pittsburgh, catching 93 passes for a career-high 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns on 137 targets in 17 games (15 starts). The vast majority of Pickens' snaps in 2025 in his first year in Dallas came out wide, but it sounds like he could spend more time inside in the slot in Year 2 in Big D, which should help the Cowboys create more mismatches for the big-play threat. Even with CeeDee Lamb commanding a high target share, the Cowboys should continue to throw the ball enough under Schottenheimer to make Pickens a legitimate WR1 again in fantasy in 2026.

Jun 18, 2026 12:13 PM EST

George Pickens Won't Hold Out During Training Camp

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens confirmed that he won't hold out during training camp. Pickens didn't attend voluntary OTAs while he continues to seek a long-term extension. Pickens has ended his holdout and officially signed his $27.3 million franchise tender for the upcoming season. He will play on the franchise tag with no long-term extension in sight. Pickens could very well be headed elsewhere next season, but he's ready to help the Cowboys until then. Last season, Pickens finished with 93 receptions, 1,429 receiving yards, and nine touchdowns. He's expected to get a hefty payday, whether it's in Dallas or somewhere else next season.

Jun 16, 2026 5:15 PM EST

George Pickens Won't Take Part in Team Drills at Minicamp

Dallas Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer said that wide receiver George Pickens won't do everything during the first day of mandatory minicamp on Tuesday and will not participate in team drills, according to Jon Machota of The Athletic. "Great visits with George. He's fired up to be back," Schottenheimer said on Tuesday. The 25-year-old will play under the one-year, $27.3 million franchise tag in 2026. Pickens was absent from organized team activities this spring as he seeks a long-term contract extension, and he won't do everything this week at minicamp. He should be a full-go for the start of training camp at the end of July, though, as he heads into his second year in Dallas. Pickens led the team with career highs in catches (93), targets (137), receiving yards (1,429), and touchdowns (nine) in 2025 in his first year with the Cowboys in their pass-happy offense. Even though CeeDee Lamb commands a high number of targets, Pickens will have his chances at a repeat in 2026 with Schottenheimer still running the offense. Pickens will be expensive early in fantasy drafts this fall as a legitimate WR1.

Jun 16, 2026 9:15 AM EST

George Pickens Reports to Cowboys Ahead of Minicamp

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens reported to the team's facilities on Monday to take his physical before mandatory minicamp kicks off on Tuesday, a source told Jon Machota of The Athletic. Pickens did not attend organized team activities, but he is expected to participate in minicamp from Tuesday through Thursday of this week. The 25-year-old will play on the one-year, $27.3 million franchise tag in 2026 after having a career year in 2025 in his first year with the Cowboys, when he caught 93 of his 137 targets for 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns in 17 games (15 starts). The former second-round pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2022 out of the University of Georgia outproduced CeeDee Lamb and is one of the best big-play wideouts in the NFL. Pickens doesn't come without some diva qualities, though, and the Cowboys apparently want to see him run it back this year before seriously considering giving him a long-term contract extension. After his monstrous year as the WR5 in half-PPR scoring, Pickens is a clear top-10 fantasy target at his position going into his fifth year in the NFL.

Jun 15, 2026 9:39 AM EST

Brian Schottenheimer Expects George Pickens to Return for Mandatory Minicamp

Dallas Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer confirms that wide receiver George Pickens hasn't been in the building this week for OTAs, but he continues to be in communication with him and expects Pickens to be present when mandatory minicamp starts on June 16, according to Nick Harris of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. The 25-year-old will make $27.3 million in 2026 on the franchise tag, and the Cowboys have already ruled out the two sides agreeing on a long-term contract extension before the deadline to get a deal done in July. The former second-rounder by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2022 out of the University of Georgia broke out for a career year after the Steelers traded him to Dallas in 2025, catching 93 of his 137 targets for 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns in 17 starts. The Cowboys want to see him do it again, though, before getting serious about an extension beyond this year. It won't be easy to do with CeeDee Lamb demanding heavy volume, but Dallas has the pass-happy offense under Schottenheimer for Pickens to have a very high ceiling in his fifth year in the league. Fantasy managers should target him as a low-end WR1 in upcoming 2026 drafts.

Jun 4, 2026 10:34 AM EST

George Pickens Signs the Franchise Tag on Wednesday

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens signed the franchise tag on Wednesday, a source told Todd Archer of ESPN. Pickens will be guaranteed $27.3 million while playing for the Cowboys in 2026, but the organization has already said they won't sign the 25-year-old to a long-term extension before the July 15 deadline. Even though Pickens signed the franchise tag, he's expected to hold out during training camp this summer, and the Cowboys could decide to trade him for premium draft capital in 2027. If Pickens says in Dallas for the 2026 campaign, Dallas will have one of the league's top one-two punches at WR again with Pickens and CeeDee Lamb. Pickens led the Cowboys in receiving in 2025 in what was a career year, catching 93 of his 137 targets for 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns in 17 games played. He was the WR5 in half-PPR scoring, and as long as he stays in Dallas for the upcoming season, Pickens is going to be a pricey WR1 early in fantasy drafts later this year.

Apr 29, 2026 6:44 PM EST

George Pickens hasn't Signed his Franchise Tag With Dallas

Wide receiver George Pickens has not yet signed the franchise-tag tender with the Dallas Cowboys, according to Todd Archer of ESPN. Reports surfaced last week before the 2026 NFL draft that Pickens planned to sign the franchise tender, but it has not happened yet. Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones said last week that the team won't sign the 25-year-old pass-catcher to a long-term extension before the July 15 deadline, so Pickens is expected to play out the 2026 campaign on the franchise tag. Things could get messy, though, as Pickens is expected to be a holdout into training camp and the preseason. If he plays 2026 on the franchise tag, he'll be owed a guaranteed $27.3 million. There's also a possibility that Dallas looks to trade Pickens if a long-term deal can't be reached. The former second-rounder by Pittsburgh in 2022 out of Georgia had a career-best 93-1,429-9 line in 17 games in his first year in Dallas in 2025, which will put him firmly in the WR1 draft rankings for the upcoming season.

Apr 27, 2026 7:06 PM EST

George Pickens to Sign the Franchise Tag

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens is expected to sign the franchise tag in the coming days, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. Because Pickens technically is not under contract with the Cowboys, he wouldn't be fined for missing any mandatory workouts this offseason. Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones said earlier this week that the two sides won't work out a long-term contract extension, even though they still have until July 15 to get something done. Once the 25-year-old wideout signs the franchise tag, Dallas could look to trade Pickens, despite talk earlier this offseason that they want him around long term. The former second-rounder by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2022 out of Georgia had a career year in 2025 in his first season with Dallas, catching 93 passes for 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns as the team's leading receiver. The Cowboys might want to see a repeat from Pickens in 2026 before giving him a long-term deal, especially since they already have CeeDee Lamb. After his big season last year, Pickens will go as a WR1 in fantasy drafts this fall.

Apr 24, 2026 7:01 AM EST

George Pickens to Play on Franchise Tag in 2026

Dallas Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones said that wide receiver George Pickens will play under the $27.3 million franchise tag in 2026, according to Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports. "There won't be negotiations on a long-term deal," Jones says. Pickens has not signed the franchise tag, so he isn't under contract and can't be fined for missing voluntary or mandatory team activities. If Pickens' holdout drags into the 2026 regular season and he doesn't report, he could miss out on game checks of $1.5 million each week. The Cowboys and Pickens have until July 15 to work out a long-term deal. The Cowboys calling off extension talks doesn't sound like a good thing for the team or for Pickens. This could get messier in training camp and as the start of the season nears in early September. The 25-year-old had a career year with a 93-1,429-9 line in 17 games played in his first year with Dallas, and he will have a WR1 price in fantasy drafts this fall. Fantasy managers considering taking Pickens early in 2026 drafts should be wary of what is shaping up to be a messy contract situation.

Apr 22, 2026 9:54 AM EST

Cowboys Not Receiving Trade Interest in George Pickens

Dallas Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones said on 105.3 The Fan on Tuesday that the team has "had no one call with interest" in wide receiver George Pickens, regarding a potential trade, according to Todd Archer of ESPN. Even though the Cowboys have expressed plenty of interest in locking Pickens up long-term after already placing the franchise tag on him, no new deal has been agreed upon. The Cowboys most likely have an extremely high asking price after Pickens' 2025 breakout season, and maturity issues in the past could be scaring potential suitors away as well. The Cowboys are notorious for dragging their feet with long-term deals for their star players, so the former second-rounder of the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2022 out of Georgia is expected to be a holdout heading into training camp this summer. Pickens had 93 catches for 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns in 17 games last year. He will be a WR1 target in fantasy football drafts this fall with at least one more guaranteed season in Dallas (if he's not traded).

Apr 14, 2026 6:02 PM EST

Cowboys Have "Long-Term Plans" for George Pickens

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said on Tuesday that the team has "long-term plans" for franchise-tagged wide receiver George Pickens, according to Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network. Jones added that he has no issues with negotiations on a long-term extension for Pickens going through agent David Mulugheta. The long-time owner also said that if Pickens "worked without an agent, he'd save a lot of money." The Cowboys have made it clear that they want to keep the 25-year-old around long-term after he broke out to the tune of 93 catches (137 targets), 1,429 yards, and nine touchdowns in 17 games in 2025, but Jones and Dallas' front office have a history of taking things down to the wire. Thus, it seems likely that Pickens is destined for a lengthy holdout this offseason that could seep into training camp in the summer as he seeks an extension with the team. At the very least, the former second-rounder will be in Dallas for one more season in 2026, and he'll be a clear WR1 target in fantasy drafts after his big first season with the Cowboys.

Mar 31, 2026 12:05 PM EST

Cowboys Not Worried About George Pickens' Offseason Participation

Dallas Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer said he's been staying in contact with franchise-tagged wide receiver George Pickens, but he "hasn't asked for or received assurances" that Pickens will be present for offseason workouts, according to Nick Harris of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. The Cowboys and Pickens have until mid-July to work out a long-term contract extension after they placed the franchise tag on him. Minicamp and organized team activities are voluntary, so Pickens almost certainly won't be present for those if he remains on the franchise tag. The Cowboys won't be concerned about the star wideout unless he starts holding out of mandatory workouts at training camp this summer, which is entirely possible if the two sides don't work out an extension by the deadline in July. Pickens will be a WR1 in fantasy football drafts in 2026 after breaking out in his first year in Dallas with 93 catches, 1,429 yards, and nine touchdowns as Dallas' leading receiver.

Mar 30, 2026 9:40 AM EST

Is George Pickens' Rumored Holdout a Concern for Dynasty Managers?

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens is coming off the best season of his career, and he continues to project as a mid-to-low WR1 option in fantasy football. However, his ongoing franchise tag saga complicates his outlook for fantasy managers. The Cowboys applied the franchise tag to Pickens, who expressed dismay and plans to hold out for a long-term deal. It sounds like he won't return to the Cowboys' facilities until he has a long-term deal in place, and the two sides could eventually come up against the clock, since the deadline for tagged players to sign an extension is July 15. It's tough to say what will happen if Pickens doesn't have a deal by then, but given the trend of franchise tag situations in recent years, it seems unlikely that Pickens would sit out any games. It seems most likely that he'll sign an extension, but he could also be traded or give in and play out his one-year deal. At the end of the day, Pickens will probably be catching passes from Dak Prescott in 2026, which bodes well for his fantasy outlook. However, what happens in 2027 and beyond is anybody's guess. Dynasty managers should consider selling high on Pickens' WR5 finish in PPR leagues last year, especially since changing teams next offseason could drop him outside the top 12 fantasy receivers.

Mar 22, 2026 5:29 PM EST

George Pickens Expected to Hold Out Until Long-Term Deal is Reached

The Dallas Cowboys officially placed the franchise tag on impending free-agent wide receiver George Pickens on Friday, according to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. Now the two sides will try to work out a long-term contract extension before the July 15 deadline, with executive vice president Stephen Jones saying that the team isn't putting any timeframe on it. Rapoport said he does not expect Pickens to report to the team's facilities "unless and until there is a long-term deal." Rapoport also wonders if there is a team out there that would be willing to give up a premium draft pick and sign Pickens to a long-term deal themselves to try to pry the 24-year-old away from Dallas for 2026 and beyond. If Dallas and Pickens are unable to reach a long-term deal by July 15, and he's not traded, he'd play the upcoming season on a one-year, fully guaranteed $28 million contract. All signs point to the former second-rounder playing in Dallas again in 2026, where he had a career-best 93 catches for 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns in 17 regular-season games. Pickens is a locked-in WR1 in fantasy for this fall.

Feb 27, 2026 12:45 PM EST

George Pickens Receives Non-Exclusive Franchise Tag

The Dallas Cowboys officially placed the non-exclusive franchise tag on impending free-agent wide receiver George Pickens on Friday, according to Todd Archer of ESPN. The non-exclusive tag allows teams to talk to Pickens when free agency begins next month, but the Cowboys will have the right to match any offer. Ultimately, the Cowboys hope that the tag is just a placeholder until they can work out a long-term extension with Pickens, who had a career year in 2025 in his first season in Dallas. The two sides will have until July 15 to reach a new contract. If an extension isn't reached, Pickens will most likely play the 2026 campaign in Dallas on the franchise tag. The 24-year-old led the Cowboys in receiving last year and was money for fantasy managers, catching 93 of his 137 targets for 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns in 17 games. Pickens was the WR5 in half-PPR scoring and won't be cheap in the early rounds of drafts this fall as a WR1.

Feb 27, 2026 6:19 AM EST

Cowboys Not Interested in Trading George Pickens

Dallas Cowboys impending free-agent wide receiver George Pickens is expected to receive the franchise tag. If the two sides aren't able to work out a long-term contract by the deadline on July 15, Pickens would remain under the tag for the 2026 season. The Athletic's Jon Machota reports that Dallas is "not interested in trading the star wide receiver." "We want George here. It's really important to us," executive vice president Stephen Jones said. It's possible that the 24-year-old wideout might not attend the team's offseason program if/when the franchise tag is slapped on him, but the bottom line is that Pickens most likely will be playing in Dallas again for the upcoming season. The former second-rounder by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2022 out of Georgia broke out with a career year in his first season with the Cowboys, catching 93 of his 137 targets for 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns. Pickens will be firmly in the WR1 picture going into 2026 fantasy drafts.

Feb 27, 2026 5:21 AM EST

George Pickens to Skip Offseason Workouts?

The Dallas Cowboys will finalize the franchise tag for wide receiver George Pickens in the next week, according to executive vice president Stephen Jones. The Dallas Morning News' Calvin Watkins writes that if Pickens gets franchise-tagged, "there's a strong possibility he will not report to the offseason programs as the team engages in contract talks with his agents." Edge rusher Micah Parsons didn't show up for the offseason program last year while in contract talks with the club before eventually being traded to the Green Bay Packers. Pickens, 24, will be back with Dallas in 2026 after earning his first Pro Bowl berth with career-highs in catches (93), receiving yards (1,429), and touchdowns (nine). The franchise tag for receivers is projected at $28 million. A tag-and-trade scenario is possible, but both sides have an interest in a reunion in 2026 and beyond. With Pickens expected to be in Dallas again this year, he'll be firmly in the WR1 range in fantasy football drafts this fall after his big 2025 campaign.

Feb 23, 2026 8:03 AM EST

Cowboys Looking to Tag and Trade George Pickens?

It's a foregone conclusion that the Dallas Cowboys will place the franchise tag on impending free-agent wide receiver George Pickens this offseason after his breakout 2025 season. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport wonders if the Cowboys would be willing to slap the franchise tag on Pickens and then turn around and trade him. Dallas acquired the 24-year-old from the Pittsburgh Steelers for a third-rounder, so in theory, the Cowboys could entertain the idea of flipping Pickens for a potential second-rounder. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has shown in the past that he's not afraid of trading star players (see Micah Parsons just last year) for high-end draft capital. Alongside CeeDee Lamb, though, Pickens took Dallas' offense to another level in 2025, and he finished with a career-high 1,429 yards, 93 receptions, and nine touchdowns in 17 games. If Pickens stays in Dallas in 2026, he'll be a strong WR1 target in fantasy football drafts.

Feb 12, 2026 4:26 PM EST

George Pickens Expected to Receive Franchise Tag

The Dallas Cowboys are expected to place their franchise tag on Second-Team All-Pro wide receiver George Pickens. Dallas acquired Pickens via trade from the Pittsburgh Steelers before the 2025 season, and in his first season with the Cowboys, the fourth-year wideout set career highs in receptions, yards, and touchdowns, earning his first Pro Bowl nod. Should Pickens hit the open market, he would be the unquestioned prize of the wide receiver free agency class and could easily demand a top-of-the-market deal. By placing the franchise tag on him, the Cowboys would retain Pickens' rights at the cost of roughly $28 million for 2026, with the hope of working toward a long-term extension. Pickens is a borderline top-10 dynasty wide receiver, and his value should continue to rise if the Cowboys succeed in making Dallas his home for the foreseeable future.

Feb 8, 2026 6:11 AM EST

Jerry Jones "Looking Forward" to Re-Signing George Pickens

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones reiterated the team's desire to reach a long-term contract extension with impending free-agent wide receiver George Pickens, according to Nick Harris of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. "He's better than, as far as what he contributed to our team, showing the potential that he could contribute. I'm looking forward to getting things worked out so George can be a Cowboy a long time," Jones said. In his first year with Dallas in 2025, Pickens led the Cowboys in receiving and earned second-team All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors with a career-best 1,429 receiving yards and nine touchdowns on a career-high 93 receptions over 17 games. Jones and the Cowboys have a history of dragging out extensions for their star players, though, so nothing is guaranteed for Pickens. However, in Pickens' case, the team seems likely to use the franchise tag to keep him around in 2026 if an extension cannot be reached. If Pickens is in Dallas next season, he'll be a clear WR1 target in fantasy drafts.

Feb 6, 2026 3:19 PM EST