Overview
- Pickens has vaulted into ESPN’s top pending free agents for 2026, ranked No. 4 overall and the top wide receiver.
- Dan Graziano says there is a strong likelihood Dallas uses the franchise tag, which Jeremy Fowler estimates at about $29 million.
- Through nine games, Pickens has 49 catches for 764 yards and six touchdowns, with projections topping 1,400 yards and double-digit scores.
- Executives cited by ESPN note past inconsistency as a consideration for bidders, even as league demand for receivers boosts his market.
- Dallas traded for Pickens in May and values his fit with CeeDee Lamb and Dak Prescott, while a recent $17,389 fine for taunting was noted in coverage.