Overview
- An ESPN report cites a Cowboys source saying of Pickens, "He ain't leaving," with Dallas prepared to use the wide receiver franchise tag projected around $27–28 million for 2026.
- Pickens leads the team with 73 receptions, 1,142 yards and eight touchdowns, emerging as Dak Prescott’s primary target this season.
- Spotrac and OverTheCap peg his market at roughly five years and $153–154 million (about $30 million annually), a decision complicated by projections that Dallas sits about $50 million over next year’s cap.
- Reports note repeated fines for lateness since the trade, but team voices describe him as a hard worker they can hold accountable, even after a brief benching tied to a missed team bus.
- Public comments from Stephen Jones, Jerry Jones and Dak Prescott endorse keeping Pickens, with executives signaling a push to secure him on a new deal.