How Cowboys' Jerry Jones thinks George Pickens would react to franchise tag

Dallas Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones made it known on Thursday that he wants wide receiver George Pickens to be with the club for "a long time." However, Pickens is in the final weeks of his contract and seemingly isn't close to putting pen to paper on a multiyear agreement. 

Pickens previously hinted he wouldn't be thrilled if his rights for 2026 were retained via the franchise tag worth around $28.8M. Per Joseph Hoyt of The Dallas Morning News, Jones was asked on Thursday how being tagged could impact Pickens.

Jerry Jones not losing sleep about tagging George Pickens 

"Not any more at all than any other player," Jones responded. "No. In fact, my emphasis on feeling good about him off the field, or any of those issues, has to do with me not differentiating him from any of the top players. Obviously, if you franchise somebody, they’re not getting exactly where they want to be. That’s the way that works. Would I be more concerned with him that I would be anybody? The answer is not at all. To me, that’s what we’ve seen and what he’s shown."

Pickens developed a reputation for causing the Pittsburgh Steelers headaches while with that club from 2022 through the 2024 season. During his first campaign with the Cowboys, he was benched for an offensive series after he allegedly missed the team bus, was reportedly fined for being late more than once and was accused of running lazy routes during at least one loss. 

"There’s nothing fragile," Jones continued during his answer about Pickens. "I’ve heard things that would imply, make me think of the word fragile. There’s nothing fragile about him." 

George Pickens "loves football" too much to hold out for a long-term deal?

Days after a report revealed that "the Cowboys have not held any contract talks with Pickens' agent," Jones curiously said he was "talking to George all the time by virtue of my excitement for him." Pickens may not share in that excitement if he's asked to take part in Dallas' offseason program while on the one-season tag. 

"That’s the thing that was so beyond expectations: his commitment to how he loves football and enjoys being around his teammates," Jones added about Pickens. "How he really enjoys being coached."

Outsiders may not have to wait long to learn of Pickens' reaction to being tagged, as the Cowboys could use that asset as soon as Feb. 17.