For now, George Pickens remains tied to the Dallas Cowboys for just one more year. A deadline regarding a potential long-term contract has passed.

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens will play the 2026 NFL season under his $27.3 million franchise tag. According to an “ESPN” report on Wednesday, the deadline for reaching a long-term contract agreement passed without a deal being reached.

After the season, Pickens would consequently become a free agent unless a new contract is signed or another franchise tag is applied.

This scenario comes as no surprise, given that the Cowboys had already stated before the NFL Draft in April that they did not intend to enter into contract extension talks with Pickens.

NFL: Pickens Wants to Focus on the Game

Pickens had already signed the franchise tag on April 29 and had already adjusted to the situation. At the mandatory minicamp, he recently emphasized that football is his top priority for now and that he doesn’t want to deal with contract issues.

“With the franchise tag and all that, football comes first for me. So I’m definitely focusing on football first—just like last year—and I’ll think about the contract later, or rather, I’ll leave that to my agent,” said the wide receiver.

Pickens was one of four players to be designated as franchise players this year. While Daniel Jones (Indianapolis Colts), Breece Hall (New York Jets), and Kyle Pitts (Atlanta Falcons) signed long-term contracts in recent weeks, Pickens remained the only player without a long-term extension.

Pickens Has a Strong Season for the Cowboys

The Cowboys acquired Pickens from the Pittsburgh Steelers last year in exchange for a third-round pick in 2026 and a fifth-round pick in 2027.

The 25-year-old justified the trade with the best season of his career, setting personal bests in all three categories with 93 catches, 1,429 receiving yards, and nine touchdowns.