Overview
- The Cowboys placed and Pickens signed a one-year non-exclusive franchise tag worth about $27–27.3 million, a move that narrowed his bargaining power while guaranteeing a large 2026 salary.
- Pickens skipped voluntary OTAs and has had only limited on-field work with Dak Prescott, with beat reporting saying there were no more than two or three throwing sessions and none since at least April.
- Cowboys management has publicly ruled out negotiating a long-term deal before the July 15 window, leaving the franchise tag as the current contract framework.
- Prescott said June 11–12 that he hasn’t recently spoken with Pickens and doubts the receiver would practice full contact even if he attends minicamp, while Pickens gave a noncommittal shrug when asked about showing up.
- If Pickens misses all three days of the mandatory June 16–18 minicamp he faces roughly $108,000 in fines, a choice that would affect his leverage and could influence the team’s roster and cap plans going forward.