Overview
- ESPN reporting indicates Dallas plans to use the franchise tag on Pickens at roughly $28 million for 2026, with the window running February 17 to March 3.
- Jeremy Fowler reports a tag could lead to a standoff, as Pickens wants to stay but is expected to hold out for market terms near $30 million per year.
- Dallas faces a significant cap crunch, with figures this week placing the team about $66.8 million over the limit and CeeDee Lamb already at $34 million annually.
- Talks could be complicated by the fraught history between owner Jerry Jones and agent David Mulugheta, which drew attention during the Micah Parsons negotiations and trade.
- Public pressure to keep the receiver is mounting—Michael Irvin and Torry Holt urged retention—while media floated speculative tag-and-trade ideas, including a Maxx Crosby swap or a deal for draft capital.