Cowboys Called Out for $29 Million Franchise Tag Prediction
If the Dallas Cowboys look within just their own division, they can see how NFL contracts should work by looking at the Philadelphia Eagles. It’s a simple way of doing things.
When the Eagles have a great young player on their roster — someone who obviously has NFL All-Pro talent — they try and pay them. Earlier the better. When they do this, they almost always come out on top in terms of savings. You get a bargain if you cough up the cash right when you know a player has that kind of upside.
Waiting is always the ultimate killer. It kills the bottom line. It kills locker room morale. It kills any hope of winning Super Bowls.
To that end, the Cowboys seem to always wait. And they always lose. Now, they’re being put on blast for a report from ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler that says the franchise is contemplating a $29 million franchise tag for wide receiver George Pickens.
The Cowboys obtained Pickens on May 7 in a trade with the Pittsburgh Steelers, getting Pickens and a 2027 sixth round pick in exchange for a 2026 third round pick and 2027 fifth round pick.
Fowler has Pickens ranked as the No. 4 overall free agent in the 2026 cycle. Pickens is in the final season of the 4-year, $6.75 million rookie contract he signed in 2022.
“The Pickens experiment in Dallas has gone swimmingly,” Fowler wrote on Wednesday, November 12. “He is pacing for 1,400-plus yards and more than 10 touchdowns as the ideal counterpart to CeeDee Lamb. His immense talent — and the number of teams starved for receiver help — will drive his value … Pickens’ results with capable quarterback play around him are undeniable. (The franchise tag — which would be around $29 million — could be a backup option for Dallas.)”
To say the reaction to the Cowboys possibly franchise tagging Pickens was not favorable would be an understatement.
Fans Want Pickens in Dallas on Long Term Deal
The smart thing to do, at this point, would be to try and lock Pickens into a long term deal — think something along the lines of a 3-year, $90 million contract extension.
The backlash from the franchise tag report didn’t focus solely on calling out the Cowboys, either. It also pointed out, like Fowler wrote, there are a lot of teams who would kill to have Pickens on their roster.
“George Pickens is one of my top Free Agent targets for the Bills,” Bills Report wrote on its official X account on November 12. “Pickens has 764 yards on 49 Receptions, and 6 TDs to go with that. At just 24 years old Pickens would likely be looking for a big 4-ish year deal. If you want a WR1, he is tough to pass on.”
“Letting George Pickens walk would be malpractice,” Sleeper Cowboys wrote on its official X account.
“George Pickens has proven to be everything the Cowboys hoped he’d be when they traded to acquire him, and the consummate team guy is eager to do whatever’s needed for the unit, as a whole, to ‘dominate’ opps,” Cowboys.com’s Patrik Walker wrote on his official X account.
Lamar Jackson injury update: Adam Schefter shares latest after missed practice for Ravens’ QB
Lamar Jackson missed practice on Wednesday for the Baltimore Ravens as he continues to manage pain and soreness after returning from injury in Week 9. However, ESPN’s Adam Schefter isn’t expecting that development to lead to him being sidelined again.
After yesterday’s news, Schefter spoke of Jackson’s status while on ‘Get Up’ on Thursday morning. He said everything he is hearing suggests that Baltimore’s quarterback will be back on the practice field today, with that setting him up to play in Week 11 with a divisional matchup up next on the road against the Cleveland Browns.
“Missed practice yesterday due to knee soreness, but he is expected to be back at practice today according to the Ravens. And, my sources tell me the Ravens are going to be honest on the injury report after they were fined the last time for some of those injury report shenanigans,” said Schefter. “And so, if they say he’s back at practice today, that means he’s going to be back at practice today, and that means he is on track to play Sunday against the Cleveland Browns, despite what prevented him from practicing yesterday.”
With him missing practice, Jackson was listed on the injury report yesterday for the Ravens. It designated him as a did not participate due to his knee, with his legs being what has limited him to just two games played over the last month and a half.
Jackson has appeared in just five games this season due to injury, with him specifically missing three games with a hamstring issue from, including a bye, Week 5 to Week 8. That includes that matter regarding his designations that led to the $100,000 fine for the Ravens by the NFL.
In a pair of road wins since his return against the Miami Dolphins and Minnesota Vikings, Jackson is 35-52 (67.3%) for 380 passing yards, five touchdowns, and no interceptions, while rushing for only 50 yards. That brings him, over six games played now this year, to stats of a career-best completion rate of 70.1% for 208.2 passing yards per game, 15 touchdowns, and a lone pick, while rushing for just one score on a career-low of 36 yards per game.
The Ravens are in the midst of a turnaround of their season with three straight wins since their bye, including the last two since their quarterback’s return, to now be 4-5. Now, they seemingly won’t have to worry about another absence by him as they try to continue that win streak on Sunday, based on the latest this morning from Schefter on Jackson.
