Pickens playing 2026 on $27.3M franchise tender after extension deadline passed.

George Pickens will play the 2026 season on his $27.3 million franchise tender after the July 15 deadline to sign franchise-tagged players to extensions passed without an extension agreement. Pickens told reporters he intends to play this year, a stance the Cowboys are pleased with as training camp begins. He reported to mandatory minicamp and is slated to participate in training camp, positioning him to play under the franchise tag.