PHOENIX – In the past, Cowboys owner/GM Jerry Jones has referenced Dallas' history of using the franchise tag as a placeholder for a long-term extension with his players. That appears to be the case once again with wide receiver George Pickens, who the team placed the non-exclusive franchise tag on last month.
The deadline for players with the tag placed on them to get long-term deals done with their respective clubs is July 15th. Does Jones envision the two sides coming to an agreement before then?
"I don't know," Jones said. "The franchise tag has an automatic timeframe on it and all of us will – and it's my plan and our thought – that we'll all be working within the timeframe of the conditions of the franchise tag. It should play itself out is the best way for me to say it. Make no mistake about it, we have long-term plans in mind for Pickens."
Jones was asked if there had been conversations between the two sides, and he says there have not recently.
"I think you would refer to contact with agent and we haven't," Jones said. "Haven't been. We have contact with the agent, but we haven't been."
Since the Cowboys want Pickens long-term, why haven't there been any discussions about giving him a long-term deal? Jones cited the tag being a part of the equation.
"I don't and won't get into our planning and structure of our team and our cap but the franchise tag is an integral part of all teams, but certainly an integral part of our strategy over the next two or three years as we look at how to keep the best players we can have relative to the cap." Jones said.
One of the upcoming checkpoints on the situation with Pickens is the Cowboys' voluntary offseason program. Unless Pickens has signed his $27.3 million tag, he cannot participate. Earlier in the week, Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer said he didn’t have assurance on Pickens’ attendance, and also wasn't going to push him for it. Jones added Tuesday he wasn't sure.
"I don't have a thought about expecting him or not. Don't know that one way or the other," Jones said. "I know he's working out with, throwing with our quarterback. So all of that's going good. I don't have anything out of the ordinary to comment about regarding him, franchise tag, all of that is normal to me."
The fact that Pickens has been working with Dak Prescott in the offseason is a positive in Jones' eyes.
"I like the fact that he's working with Dak and they're getting that in," Jones said. "That's critical right now as well as in the future. So it's good. It's all good. It doesn't mean that in any way that it is bad if they don't have a structured attendance under those circumstances. I don't think so."
Schottenheimer also mentioned the benefits of the two being able to throw with one another and continue to build chemistry and help Dallas' offense go to the next level in 2026.
"The fact he's working and throwing with Dak and some of the other guys, that to me is more important than anything because you have to come up with that me-to-you factor," Schottenheimer said. "You know, Dak's thrown to CeeDee for however many years so those two guys working together, I think, is going to be huge moving into year two."
Pickens is represented by David Mulugheta, the same agent who represents Micah Parsons. Last year at NFL Owner's meetings, Jones made headlines for his comments on Mulugheta, but said at the NFL Combine that he had no issues with Mulugheta and can work with him and reiterated that sentiment on Tuesday.
"The facts are that l've talked to hundreds of agents in my time over the last 35 years and have talked to some recently," Jones said. "Again, there's no issue with me with talking to agents. I need to do a better job of not getting, 'Well daddy said I could have it, and him going to Momma and Momma, saying daddy said l could have it.'"
"We've got to get on the same page, and I have something to do with that as well. Just got to, when we're dealing with agents, when I also do visit with players, always have. Sometimes make the deal with the player. Always have. It always works out if he worked without an agent, he'd save a lot of money. With me."
For now, the Pro Bowl wide receiver has a decision to make on the franchise tag, an avenue that Jones and the Cowboys see having a purpose.
"All of us play under the rules of the collective bargaining agreement and the collective bargaining agreement clearly anticipates the franchise tag and that's part of what you sign up for in the NFL when you're playing in the NFL or you're a team in the NFL," Jones said. "And the franchise tag is there for a purpose. It's to benefit the process to go ahead and put your team together. We are availing ourselves of it."
