EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsPHOENIX -- In one breath, Dallas Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones said, "Make no mistake about it, we have long-term plans in mind," for Pro Bowl wide receiver George Pickens.In the next, Jones acknowledged there have been no negotiations regarding a deal and seemed willing to let Pickens play out this season on the franchise tag."All of us play under the rules of the collective bargaining agreement, and the collective bargaining agreement clearly anticipates the franchise tag and that's part of what you sign up for in the NFL when you're playing in the NFL or you're a team in the NFL," Jones said from the NFL's annual meeting Tuesday. "And the franchise tag is there for a purpose. It's to benefit the process to go ahead and put your team together. We are availing ourselves of it."Last month, the Cowboys placed the nonexclusive, $27.3 million franchise tag on Pickens, who established career highs last year in catches (93), receiving yards (1,429) and touchdowns (nine) in his first year with the Cowboys after he was acquired in a trade with the Pittsburgh Steelers.On Monday, Dallas coach Brian Schottenheimer said he has not had any assurances from Pickens that he will participate in any phase of the offseason program.Asked about the importance of Pickens participating, Jones added Tuesday: "Well, I like the fact that he's working (out) with Dak Prescott (this offseason) and they're getting that in. That's critical right now as well as in the future. So it's good. It's all good. It doesn't mean that in any way that it is bad if they don't have a structured attendance under those circumstances."Two years ago, Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb skipped the offseason program, OTAs and mandatory minicamp as he awaited a long-term contract extension before he played on his fifth-year option. Late in training camp, Lamb signed a four-year extension averaging $34 million a season.The Cowboys and Pickens have until July 15 to work out a long-term deal, or he has to play the season on the tag. The Cowboys could end up tagging him again in 2027 if he has another high-level season."It's my plan and our thought that we'll all be working within the timeframe of the conditions of the franchise tag," Jones said. "It should play itself out is the best way for me to say it."The last time the Cowboys signed a first-time franchise-tagged player came in 2015 with wide receiver Dez Bryant. In the subsequent years, defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence and Prescott played one season on the tag and were tagged again before signing an extension.The Cowboys used the franchise tag on tight end Dalton Schultz (2022) and running back Tony Pollard (2023), and both players left via free agency the following season."I don't and won't get into our planning and structure of our team and our cap, but the franchise tag is an integral part of all teams, but certainly an integral part of our strategy over the next two or three years as we look at how to keep the best players we can have relative to the cap," Jones said.At last year's NFL annual meeting in Palm Beach, Florida, Jones created a stir when he said he and Micah Parsons were close to working out a long-term agreement only to see it come apart after Parsons insisted his agent, David Mulugheta, be part of the process. The Cowboys did not have meaningful discussions with Parsons and Mulugheta after that. Parsons attended the first two days of the offseason program, but did not participate in the mandatory minicamp or training camp, ultimately getting dealt to the Green Bay Packers the week before the 2025 season began.When the Cowboys placed the franchise tag on Pickens, who is also represented by Mulugheta, earlier this month, he and Jones spoke but not about the contract."The facts are that I've talked to hundreds of agents in my time over the last 35 years and have talked to some recently," Jones said. "Again, there's no issue with me with talking to agents. I need to do a better job of not getting, 'Well, Daddy said I could have it,' and him going to Momma ... and saying, 'Daddy said I could have it.' We've got to get on the same page and I have something to do with that as well. When we're dealing with agents, when I also do visit with players, always have. Sometimes make the deal with the player. Always have."It always works out. If he worked without an agent, he'd save a lot of money with me."
