-
todd archer
multiple authors
INDIANAPOLIS — WITH dallas cowboysIn the words of executive vice president Stephen Jones, the franchise was “leaning” toward using the franchise tag on a Pro Bowl wide receiver. george pickensThe organization is also aware of the consequences of that possible decision.
Although it hasn’t been a recent time that the Cowboys have used the franchise tag, players have opted out of part of their team’s offseason program, minicamp and even training camp in the past.
“It crosses your mind,” Jones said from the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. “I mean, a lot of the people we tagged participated in everything, Post [Prescott] Show the way. He played under two of them. He never left anything. Hopefully, the same will happen here too.”
Dallas has until March 3 to decide whether to place the franchise tag on Pickens, which would cost about $28 million, but he will meet with his agents in Indianapolis this week. Till date there has been no discussion between the two parties.
From 2018 to 2023, the Cowboys used the franchise tag each year: On demarcus lawrence (twice), Prescott (twice), tight end Dalton Schultz and running back tony pollard. The team was able to reach multi-year deals with Lawrence and Prescott after the players were tagged for a second time.
The last time Dallas reached a long-term deal on a player tagged for the first time was with the wide receiver in 2015 dez bryant.
“It could go either way,” Jones said. “So we’ll really continue to analyze the situation and see what happens next.”
Last weekend, the Cowboys agreed to a three-year, $24 million deal with the running back javonte williams. At last year’s combine, he made progress on an $80 million contract for defensive tackle Osa OdighizuwaWho signed before free agency opened.
Jones said he has “never been good at predicting” when such deals will happen. The Cowboys had lengthy talks with Prescott and cd lamb Before the 2024 season, and the same thing happened to them last year Micah Parsons Before trading the Pro Bowl pass rusher green Bay Packers One week before the season starts.
“In the past, we’ve made deals with top players and it’s been done in a hurry,” Jones said. “But at the end of the day, every agent is different in what they’re trying to accomplish, the way they view their strategy and what they’re about.”
Dallas’ other Pro Bowl receiver, Lamb, is the third-highest paid at his position with $34 million. The Cowboys can afford to pay Pickens and Lamb, but is it the wisest allocation of resources? cincinnati bengalswith joe burro, jammer chase And t higginsand this philadelphia eagleswith jalen hurts, aj brown And devonta smithHave managed to deal with similar high-cost situations.
“Those are all things we’re looking at, so we’ll make a decision based on where we ultimately end up,” Jones said, reiterating that the desire is to retain Pickens. “I mean, obviously, what we need to accomplish on the defensive side of the ball is going to impact a lot of things. … It’s going to be a work in progress.”
Even with the tag on Pickens, Jones said the Cowboys can “do everything we need to do” in free agency.
The team will restructure the contracts of Prescott, Lamb, Odighizuwa and tyler smith To get under the cap when free agency starts and give themselves room to spend. Dallas hasn’t made a stellar free agent signing since cornerback in 2012 Brandon Carr Received a five-year, $50 million contract.
Knowing that Williams and Pickens will be under contractual control, the Cowboys will look to help their defense in free agency with new coordinator Christian Parker.
“Every year is different and it will depend a lot on what’s out there and what we think about it,” Jones said. “We’ll make a decision based on that. But, yeah, we definitely think we’ll hit free agency this year.”
