The Dallas Cowboys have the ability to franchise tag NFL All-Pro wide receiver George Pickens and take him off the market, essentially tying him to the Cowboys for one more year for approximately $29.5 million.
It’s not hard to see how that could be a disaster, and might lead to Pickens having one of his trademark meltdowns if he’s not allowed to explore the free agent market.
The smartest thing to do in this case would probably be more along the lines of a “tag-and-trade” move in which the Cowboys find an acceptable draft partner — give Pickens a list to choose from possibly — and send him somewhere he will get a long-term deal once he signs his one-year tender with the Cowboys.
Or, they could just let him become a free agent, where mad riches await.
Pickens Would Be Perfect Fit in Dirty South
In that case, Pro Football Focus predicts the best landing spot for Pickens would be in the NFC South, with the Atlanta Falcons and new head coach Kevin Stefanski.
“The change of scenery to Dallas cemented Pickens as a bona fide elite name at the receiver position, and entering his age-25 season, he’ll have no shortage of suitors this free agency cycle,” PFF’s Mason Cameron wrote. “This past season, Pickens earned a career-best 87.2 PFF receiving grade, posting top-three marks in receiving yardage (1,429) and 15-plus-yard receptions of 15 (38). The 2026 season will prove to be an important crossroad for Michael Penix Jr.’s development as a passer … Pairing Pickens with Drake London would create one of the NFLs most electric receiver duos and set the young quarterback up for success.”
The Falcons haven’t had a winning season since 2017 and just fired head coach Raheem Morris after consecutive 8-9 seasons.
There’s no reason the Falcons shouldn’t be playoff contenders or in the playoff hunt every year with a talented roster that includes arguably the NFL’s top running back in Bijan Robinson and a young defense with up-and-coming stars like edge rusher James Pearce Jr. and safety Xavier Watts.
Pickens Earned First All-Pro Nod in 2025
Pickens came to the Cowboys in May via a trade with the Pittsburgh Steelers in exchange for a third round pick. He earned his first All-Pro selection in 2025 after he finished fourth in the NFL in receiving with 93 receptions for 1,429 yards and 9 touchdowns.
While Pickens received praise for his second team pick, the bigger debate seemed to be how he wasn’t the third first team receiver alongside Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nucua and Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
Instead, that third spot went to Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase, who had 125 receptions for 1,412 receiving yards and 8 touchdowns and was suspended for one game for spitting on an opponent.
The Cowboys finished 7-9-1 and missed the playoffs for the second consecutive season. The Bengals went 6-11 and missed the playoffs for the third consecutive season.
“How did George Pickens not get first team All-pro over Ja’Marr Chase?” Fantasy Football analyst William Spencer III wrote on his official X account.
“Honestly I think George Pickens should’ve made first-team ALL PRO over Ja’Marr Chase,” BKS Sports wrote on X.
Tony Adame covers the NFL for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Washington Commanders, Dallas Cowboys, Baltimore Ravens, Philadelphia Eagles and Denver Broncos. A veteran sports writer and editor since 2004, his work has been featured at Stadium Talk, Yardbarker, NW Florida Daily News and Pensacola News Journal. More about Tony Adame
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