Cowboys Potential Replacement Revealed After Jordan Pickens Is Franchise Tagged

The Dallas Cowboys might already be preparing for life after George Pickens, and the message coming out of the front office is pretty clear. With no plans to negotiate a long-term deal before the July deadline, Pickens is set to play on the franchise tag and that has naturally opened the door to questions about his future with the team.

According to Adam Schefter, Dallas is not just sitting back and waiting either. Instead, they could look to the upcoming draft to find a potential replacement, signaling that this situation might be less about a short-term contract dispute and more about a bigger shift in how the Cowboys want to build their offense moving forward. It is important to keep in mind that the Cowboys have the 12th overall pick going into the 2026 NFL draft.

"They're nowhere with George Pickens right now. NOWHERE with George Pickens."@AdamSchefter provides an update on the Cowboys ahead of the NFL draft pic.twitter.com/C4gQveBPK4

— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) April 22, 2026

Schefter in a recent episode of ‘Get Up' on ESPN revealed who the Cowboys might be eyeing in the 2026 draft to potentially replace Pickens. He said, "The Cowboys are said to really like Jordyn Tyson so it is just one more sub-plot in a draft filled with them entering Thursday night."

A Closer Look at the George Pickens Situation

The Dallas Cowboys are taking a pretty measured approach with George Pickens, and it's clear they're in no rush to lock anything in long term. For now, the plan is simple let him play out the upcoming season on the franchise tag and revisit everything later.

It's not a reflection of doubt as much as it is a business decision. Pickens impressed in his first year with the team, but Dallas seems to want more time before committing major money. When you already have big contracts tied up in players like Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb, adding another massive deal into the mix is not something you do lightly.

There's also a bit of flexibility in this approach. The Cowboys can circle back next offseason, use the tag again if needed, or explore other options depending on how things play out. Of course, that also means there's some uncertainty hanging over the situation. If Pickens feels undervalued or things don't go as planned, the relationship could shift pretty quickly.

For now, though, the tone from the team has been positive. They like what Pickens brings to the offense and believe he fits well alongside the current core. The bigger question is whether this short-term solution eventually turns into a long-term partnership, or if Dallas ends up going in a completely different direction down the line.

Related: Cowboys' Jerry Jones Urged To Go All-In For 'Superstar' Linebacker in 2026 NFL Draft

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This story was originally published April 22, 2026 at 12:15 PM.