All articles tagged with #franchise tag
Dallas used a non-exclusive franchise tag on George Pickens to let him explore offers while Dallas gauges his market, with potential compensation of two first-round picks if they don’t match. Separately, Dallas is optimistic about re-signing kicker Brandon Aubrey on a market-setting deal, with talks centered around $8 million per year and optimism from Stephen Jones that a deal could be reached soon.
Schottenheimer says his relationship with George Pickens won’t change amid ongoing contract talks, while Dallas plans to use the franchise tag as a placeholder with a July 15 deadline. The front office—led by the Joneses—will drive the negotiations with Pickens’ reps, and no move by Schottenheimer can alter that dynamic. He wants Pickens back, and teammates have publicly supported his return, but the business side could create distraction if Pickens skips portions of the offseason program, a scenario the team hopes to avoid based on past experience with Micah Parsons.
Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer says his relationship with George Pickens won’t change regardless of contract talks or the expected franchise tag, noting it’s part of the business side as CeeDee Lamb and Dak Prescott’s deals were handled. The tag would be a placeholder around $28 million for 2026 while a long-term deal is pursued, with a March 3 deadline to use it. Pickens had a standout 2025 season with 1,429 receiving yards, 93 catches and nine TDs.
Dallas placed a non-exclusive franchise tag on WR George Pickens for 2026, allowing him to negotiate with other teams while the Cowboys can match any offer; if they don’t, Dallas would receive two first-round picks as compensation. Pickens enjoyed a breakout 2025 season after being traded from Pittsburgh, and the tag buys time to work out a long-term deal before a mid-summer deadline, with a potential $29 million salary if he plays on the tag.
The Dallas Cowboys placed a franchise tag on wide receiver George Pickens, worth about $28.8 million for 2026, with a July 15 deadline to negotiate a long-term deal; if no deal is reached, Pickens will play the season on a one-year contract. Pickens had a standout 2025 season (93 receptions, 1,429 yards, nine TDs) alongside CeeDee Lamb to keep Dallas’ offense potent, though the team is over the salary cap and could pursue a multi-year extension or explore a trade before the tag window closes.
Dallas plans to franchise-tag George Pickens for about $28 million, preserving his rights and buying time to negotiate a longer contract after a breakout season. The tag avoids an immediate free-agency bidding war but doesn’t guarantee he stays beyond next season if a deal isn’t reached.
Bob Labriola answers fan questions on Malik Willis’ hype and the 2026 free-agent market, the Steelers' franchise-tag odds, NFL division realignment, a Mike Wagner tribute, Aaron Rodgers’ potential return for 2026, Hall of Fame induction rules, and Drew Allar’s draft prospects, illustrating the offseason QB chatter shaping roster-building.
Colts GM Chris Ballard says the franchise tag is a tool they’d prefer not to use on pending free agents Daniel Jones and Alec Pierce, but it remains an option if a deal isn’t reached before the March 3 deadline. Talks at the scouting combine are ongoing and described as positive, with Jones stabilizing the QB position and Pierce posting strong receiving numbers in 2025.
The 49ers and left tackle Trent Williams, 37, are in a contract stalemate for 2026, with Williams carrying a $32 million non-guaranteed base and a $38.841 million cap hit; absent a revised deal, San Francisco could release or trade him, with $10 million owed on April 1, while Williams had previously suggested he’d be back in 2026 but the situation remains unresolved.
Falcons' plan to franchise-tag Kyle Pitts tightens the market for top tight ends, potentially giving the Steelers' Pat Freiermuth added trade value as Pittsburgh pursues a win-now approach under new coach Mike McCarthy.
The Atlanta Falcons will franchise-tag tight end Kyle Pitts for about $16.5 million, counting against the 2026 salary cap, keeping him in Atlanta as talks for a long-term deal continue. Pitts, 25, rose to 1,000+ receiving yards as a rookie but then dealt with injuries, delivering a 928-yard, five-TD season in 2025 before the tag.
Dallas is using the franchise tag to keep WR George Pickens for about $28 million in 2026 rather than meeting his market value, a calculated risk that Pickens could respond with a holdout, a trade demand, or push for a long-term deal once a market-rate contract emerges.
The Atlanta Falcons are reportedly planning to apply the 2026 franchise tag to tight end Kyle Pitts Sr., with the tag expected to be around $16 million for one season. Pitts, a 2021 top-5 pick, posted a strong 2025 season (88 catches, 928 yards, 5 TDs) and now the team has until July 15 to work out a multi-year deal, keeping him in Atlanta after Matt Ryan moved into an executive role.
The Atlanta Falcons plan to use the franchise tag on tight end Kyle Pitts to prevent him from hitting free agency, with a 2026 tag value around $16.3 million and the possibility of a long-term deal later. Pitts, who has evolved into a productive receiver (88 catches, 928 yards, 5 TDs in 2025), is seen as a core piece for a Falcons offense under the new regime, which aims to keep him in Atlanta while negotiating a multi-year contract by the July 15 deadline.
Dallas Cowboys expect to franchise-tag wide receiver George Pickens within the next week, keeping him from free agency and extending the negotiation window into July for a possible long-term deal. The tag would guarantee a 2026 salary and cap hit over $28 million, with a long-term contract potentially reducing the cap, though it’s unclear whether Pickens will attend offseason workouts while tagged.