Overview
- Cowboys CEO Stephen Jones said Pickens was "fired up" to stay and told Jerry Jones he wants to be a Cowboy.
- The non-exclusive tag lets Pickens negotiate with other teams beginning March 11, with Dallas able to match any offer or receive two first-round picks.
- Dallas and Pickens have until July 15 to agree on a multi-year deal, after which only the one-year tender remains available under league rules.
- Analysts, including NBC Sports’ Mike Florio, criticize the franchise tag for suppressing player value, noting elite wideout deals approach roughly $40 million per year.
- Former Cowboys receiver Michael Irvin suggested Pickens could wait for other receiver contracts to set benchmarks before committing to a new deal.