Overview
- Dallas applied the non‑exclusive franchise tag to Pickens on February 27, guaranteeing about $27.298 million for 2026 with five days to match any outside offer or take two first‑round picks.
- Cowboys reporter Bobby Belt predicted Pickens will play on the one‑year tag, with multiple reports noting no public progress on a long‑term deal.
- Former All‑Pro Le’Veon Bell advised Pickens to take the tag while aiming for an eventual agreement, citing his own experience with a sit‑out backfiring.
- Reports say Dallas scheduled a top‑30 visit with Indiana receiver Omar Cooper Jr., a move interpreted by some as contingency planning given cap pressures and CeeDee Lamb’s contract.
- Trade talk remains speculative, with recent analysis using the Jaylen Waddle deal to frame a possible asking price and some chatter linking teams like the Patriots as hypothetical suitors.