In defense of fans of the Dallas Cowboys, until a signature is on the dotted line and until a player is lined up on the field in Week 1 of an NFL season, there is no reason to feel safe about the status of a player or his position on the team. All last summer, after all, we were told that the Cowboys were just maneuvering with edge rusher Micah Parsons and it was only a matter of time before he signed. Of course, he was then traded to the Packers. Now, there’s similar concern with star receiver George Pickens.
We know Pickens’ situation well: He is a free agent, but was hit with the franchise tag by the Cowboys well ahead of the March deadline. An April deadline for Pickens to get a counter offer from another team passed already, and that means he is bound to the club on a one-year, $27.3 million contract. All he has to do is sign it, and last Thursday, on the first night of the NFL draft, reports emerged that he does intend to sign that tag deal.
But then came Monday, the first day of Cowboys voluntary workouts, as ESPN’s Todd Archer sent a shiver through the collective spine of Cowboys backers by noting that, no, Pickens has still not signed the tag deal.
Cowboys Have Not Gotten Tag Deal Signed by George Pickens
Here’s what Archer wrote on Monday afternoon: “George Pickens has not yet signed the franchise tag tender with the Cowboys.”
All right, maybe not the time to hit the panic button a Pickens trade just yet. But then the Cowboys made another transaction, adding veteran wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling, a move announced by the Cowboys PR department. Valdes-Scantling, at one time, notched 690 yards receiving in a season and led the NFL with 20.9 yards per catch.
At that point, there was angst, if not panic, amongst the Cowboys faithful, because signing MVS looked like the prelude to a Pickens trade.
GettyThe Dallas Cowboys signed veteran wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling
Cowboys’ George Pickens Trade Plans
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, though, was there to pull folks back from the brink. Fowler reports that, no, Pickens has not signed the franchise tag deal, but that does not mean a trade is imminent.
Here’s what Fowler wrote on Twitter/X: “Last week, the Cowboys received verbal commitment via email from George Pickens’ agents that the star receiver is signing his franchise tag. He has yet to sign the tender, as @toddarcher reported.
“Dallas still has no plans to trade him.”
There is the sigh of relief. There really is no hurry for Pickens to sign the Cowboys tag offer–it’s not going anywhere. While Monday was the start of the team’s offseason program, it’s a voluntary program and not much of a concern if Pickens does not show up. There is still plenty of time.
Marquez Valdes-Scantling Signing Has No Impact
As for the signing of MVS, it’s important to put it into context. Yes, he has had some memorable moments in the NFL, but he is also 31 years old and has been a journeyman for the last two seasons–he played for four teams in 2024 and 2025.
As Nick Harris of the Forth Worth Star-Telegram wrote: “George Pickens had more yards in five separate games last season than Marquez Valdes-Scantling had all season. This is a depth add, guys. Don’t think it signals anything coming down the pipe.”
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