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George Pickens #3 of the Dallas Cowboys
Generally speaking, it would hardly be called a big loss when you cave on a negotiation and still walk away making more than $27 million in one year. That’s where things stand for Dallas Cowboys receiver George Pickens, who has not been granted a long-term contract from the team and instead was given the franchise tag, a one-year deal worth $27.2 million. Under NFL rules, the Cowboys are not obliged to give Pickens anything further beyond that.
It would be up to Pickens to do what he could to gain leverage, and that would mean a holdout. He’d skip spring team activities, like OTAs and minicamp, in hopes that the Cowboys would come to the table and pay him a fair-market contract, which would land somewhere in the range of four years and $120 million. After a breakout season with 93 catches and 1,429 yards, that’s around the market rate for Pickens.
But again, the Cowboys need not do anything. Anyone who has observed this franchise over the years knows that is the most likely outcome here–the Cowboys will do nothing and let Pickens either sign the tag deal or sit out.
George Pickens and Cowboys: ‘No Contract Talks’
It’s still early, and Pickens and the Cowboys have until July to work out a long-term contract. Maybe this will be the time when the Cowboys change their stripes and give out a risky long-term deal before they need to do so. But so far, they’ve done nothing.
If that continues to be the case, it seems, Pickens will relent and simply play on the one-year deal.
From Dallas Morning News Cowboys beat writer Calvin Watkins, a sort-of update on the situation: “When it comes to Pickens. No contract talks. He’s been placed under franchise tag $27.2 million. Last we checked Jerry Jones said Pickens wants to be a Cowboy. It seems at this stage Pickens will play under the tag and keep it moving, but so much can change between now and camp.”
Cowboys’ Dak Prescott: ‘Bet on Yourself’
Recent advice, whether it’s welcomed or not, has been for Pickens to take the Cowboys’ tag deal, match what he did last season, and cash in next year when he hits free agency.
Last month, Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott pointed out that he had been in Pickens’ situation, played on the tag, and still got paid.
“You played last year on a one-year, whatever it was,” Prescott said. “So if you can go one year for $30-whatever-it-is million, it’s the same thing I got when I franchised. hey, go do it. Bet on yourself.”
Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys
GettyDak Prescott #4 of the Dallas Cowboys
George Pickens’ Advice From Le’Veon Bell
Quarterbacks are in a different category from the rest of the players in the league, though–they’ll always get paid, even the league-average guys. It’s a riskier bet for Pickens, though he has a great situation with the Cowboys.
Pickens recently got advice from former Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell, who was franchise tagged, then wanted a bigger deal and wound up sitting out an entire season.
Said Bell, on Michael Irvin’s podcast: “If I’m George, yeah. I think I play on the tag and, in hopes of trying to get a deal worked out. You know, I think they do make a deal eventually because they got CeeDee Lamb too. I think if the Cowboys want to get back to being the Cowboys, bro, get to the Super Bowl, they need to keep their weapons.”