Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens told reporters Tuesday that he won't hold out this offseason and plans to play the 2026 campaign on the franchise tag.
"What's important to me is winning," Pickens said at mandatory minicamp, according to The Athletic's Jon Machota. "Like I said from the beginning, I always wanna bring a Super Bowl to a group of guys that never had that feeling. That's really the most important part to me."
Pickens reported to the Cowboys' facilities at the start of minicamp and took his physical Monday. However, he skipped all voluntary offseason workouts, saying Tuesday that he was following his agent's advice, Machota adds.
The 25-year-old recently signed his franchise tag, which is a fully guaranteed, one-year contract worth $27.3 million. The two sides have until July 15 to reach a long-term deal, but executive vice president Stephen Jones told reporters in April that the club wants Pickens to play the season under the tag.
Pickens is coming off an incredible 2025 campaign in which he recorded 93 receptions on 137 targets for 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns. His 10.4 yards per target ranked third among all wideouts in the NFL, according to TruMedia.
The wide receiver duo of Pickens and CeeDee Lamb combined for 2,506 yards last season and are now both set to return in 2026.
"Well, I would typically say same position, first off. Second off, just as a person, you know, he's also a grinder," Pickens said of his relationship with Lamb, according to Abby Jones of DLLS Sports. "He wants to get better every day and every year, and that's definitely what I hold myself to. So definitely cool."
The Cowboys' offense ranked second in yards per game and fifth in EPA/play last year.
