Dallas Cowboys Set To Franchise Tag Star Player
It looks like the Dallas Cowboys aren’t letting their newest star go anywhere. According to sources dropping hints to ESPN, Jerry Jones and the front office are gearing up to slap the franchise tag on Wide Receiver George Pickens.
For anyone who watched Pickens tear it up last season, this isn’t exactly a shocker, but it is an expensive one. The projected cost for a wide receiver on the tag this year is hovering right around $28 million. That’s a serious chunk of change for a one-year rental, but when you look at the numbers, it makes perfect sense why the Cowboys are pulling out the checkbook.
Why the Franchise Tag Makes Sense
Pickens was electric last year. After coming over from Pittsburgh, he finally looked like the WR1 everyone knew he could be, snagging over 90 catches for a career-high 1,400+ yards and finding the end zone nine times. He wasn’t just good; he was arguably the spark plug this offense needed.
Jones didn’t mince words when talking to the team website recently. “I’m talking to George all the time by virtue of my excitement for him,” Jones said. “I’m looking forward to getting things worked out so George can be a Cowboy a long time.”
The franchise tag window opens on Feb. 17 and closes on March 3. By tagging him, the Cowboys effectively block him from testing the free-agent waters, buying themselves time until mid-July to hammer out a long-term extension.
The CeeDee Lamb Factor
One of the most interesting subplots here is how this affects the rest of the receiver room, specifically CeeDee Lamb. You might think having two alphas fighting for targets (and money) would cause friction, but Lamb seems to be all about spreading the wealth.
Speaking on radio row during Super Bowl week, Lamb shut down any idea of jealousy. “I just want my man to get what he deserves,” Lamb said. “If he gets more than me, I’m going to congratulate him on that.”
What’s Next For the Dallas Cowboys?
This offseason is shaping up to be a busy one for the Cowboys. They have around 15 unrestricted free agents to worry about, including Running Back Javonte Williams and pass-rusher Jadeveon Clowney. But Quarterback Dak Prescott made it clear where the priority lies, calling it “vital” to keep Pickens in the silver and blue.
“I think it must be done,” Prescott said at the Pro Bowl. “We’ve got to find a way to keep him here.” While the $28 million price tag stings a little, losing a weapon like Pickens would hurt a whole lot more. Expect the official announcement to drop sometime in the next few weeks, followed by the inevitable dance of long-term contract talks this summer.
