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Feb 2, 2026; San Francisco, CA, USA; Dallas Cowboys receiver George Pickens during NFC practice at the NFL Flag Fieldhouse at Moscone Center South Building. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
The Dallas Cowboys and George Pickens seem to be heading toward another season together.
But as his franchise tender remains unsigned, there's at least a little doubt. It has raised the idea of a trade into the public consciousness.
One key note: Pickens has to actually sign his franchise tag to then be eligible to be traded.
But the plan still seems to be that Pickens will indeed sign it, and he just hasn't yet.
"George Pickens has told the Cowboys that he intends to sign the franchise tag," NFL Network's Ian Rapoport said Wednesday on The Pat McAfee Show. "... He is accepting the franchise tag so not signing it yet isn't that big of a deal."
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So that means he won't be traded, right?
Well, Rapoport didn't quite say that.
"I would be surprised if he's traded but I wouldn't be stunned," Rapoport told McAfee.
OK, so that leaves the door open.
Pickens just got traded to the Cowboys before last season from the Pittsburgh Steelers, and he had the best season of his career. He's a key cog in the Dallas offense as another star receiver to go with CeeDee Lamb.
Dak Prescott surely would like to keep Pickens around to keep throwing the ball to.
But if the Cowboys don't see themselves giving Pickens a long-term extension, maybe they at least look into whether he's got trade value.
Like Rapoport said, he wouldn't be stunned. Maybe something interesting is still bound to happen here.
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