Cowboys news: Dallas will franchise tag George Pickens according to sources

Cowboys expected to do what they were expected to do.

One of the more annoying things about being a locked-in fan of the Dallas Cowboys, is the way that national outlets deliver information on the franchise. America's Team comes with plusses and minuses, with the fact that Dallas is routinely on national television despite lackluster seasons contrasted by blowing up every single Cowboys molehill into a mountain.

This one might fall in the latter category, for those who are in the know and have a baseline understanding of how things are going to unfold over the next couple of weeks. The Dallas Cowboys have a clear leverage point to use in the contract negotiations with wide receiver George Pickens, and no one is shocked they are going to utilize it.

ESPN's Adam Schefter has broken" the news the Cowboys are expected to place the franchise tag on George Pickens. Shocker.

The tag is a no brainer to anyone who pays attention to the circumstances. After trading a third-round pick (and a Day 3 pick swap) to acquire Pickens from the Pittsburgh Steelers, Dallas reaped the rewards of the wideout's first All-Pro season. Pickens set career highs in every meaningful offensive category thanks to catching passes from a bonafide star QB for the first time in his career. Working with Dak Prescott, he caught 93 passes for 1,400 yards and scored nine touchdowns.

With a need for a linebacker, Rodriguez might be exactly what the Cowboys are looking for.

The Dallas Cowboys will reinvent their defensive identity this offseason undernew defensive coordinator Christian Parker. While his exact scheme and style are to be determined, every defense needs a ball-hawking, havoc-wreaking linebacker. Texas Tech's Jacob Rodriguez is precisely that.

Although not considered by most to be worthy of a first-round selection, Rodriguez was the most productive player in college football last season and comes into April's draft incredibly underrated. Dallas should seriously consider trading back from No. 20 and taking Rodriguez with their next pick.

Let's dive into why.

Texas Tech LB Jacob Rodriguez 2026 NFL Draft Scouting Report

Notes:

Height:6011

Weight: 233 pounds

Expected 40 Yard Dash Time:4.60-4.70

Recruiting:Unranked prospectin 2021 recruiting class. Initially played quarterback at Virginia before transferring to Texas Tech and switching to linebacker.

College Production:317 total tackles, 179 solo tackles, 25.5 tackles for loss, 6.0 sacks, 6 interceptions, 12 passes defended, 13 forced fumbles, 5 fumble recoveries, 2 defensive touchdowns. Two rushing touchdowns as a senior. Led the Big 12 in solo tackles in 2024 and 2025. Led the nation with 7 forced fumbles in 2025. Nagurski, Butkus, Lombardi and Bednarik Award winner, Unanimous All-American, Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year in 2025. Fifth in Heisman Trophy voting.

Positives:

Incredibly high IQ player. Quarterback background is evident with pre-snap recognition. Allows him to get ahead of plays and track running backs, beating them to the spot.

Production cannot be denied. His ability to create havoc plays like TFLs, interceptions and forced fumbles makes him an asset. Just has a nose for the football.

Instincts allow him to readjust on the fly and not get burned. Gets downhill against the run in a hurry and rarely bites on fakes or misdirections.

Rangey linebacker. Great pursuit of ball carries, quickly gets to the edge and can get sideline to sideline to prevent big plays.

Can cover running backs coming out of the backfield and does a great job deterring quarterbacks in the middle of the field. Great ball skills for a linebacker. Times up hits well to jar the ball loose on receivers across the middle.

Why the Cowboys need to look to improve the defense with their first two picks in the draft.

On Sunday, the 2025 NFL season will officially come to an end with either the Seahawks or Patriots crowned as Super Bowl Champions. On Monday, you will see a flood of mock drafts like never before.The NFL Draft seems to get bigger every single season, and with stars like Fernando Mendoza, Jeremiyah Love, and Caleb Downs set to be picked, that trend won't be breaking in 2026.

Similarly, the draft has risen in importance for the Dallas Cowboys over the past few years, mainly because of two factors: Dak Prescott's age and their lack of activity in free agency.This front office is constantly needing to hit on their draft picks, since they refuse to bring in established players at positions of need, and with Prescott nearing his mid-30s, the importance of those picks is greater than ever before. As you all know, they will make two selections in the first round in April, thanks to the Micah Parsons trade, and if you see any mock drafters using those picks on offense, you should take it with a grain of salt.

No To Offensive Stars: Cowboys Can't Fall In Love With Love & Co.

If you take a brief look atthe Cowboys' 2025 depth chart on offense, you will see how attainable a full re-run with their starters is. CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens, and Ryan Flournoy arehighly likelyto lead Dallas's wide receiver room in 2026; the offensive line, barring the release of Terence Steele, should remain the same; and I expect Javonte Williams to return to the team as RB1. Can you make the argument that they could upgrade at running back with a guy like Love, or replace Pickens with a cheaper, younger first-round wide receiver, or draft a new tackle to remove Steele from the picture?

Sure, but that doesn't solve Dallas's biggest problem, and it likely won't move the needle toward winning any additional games they would otherwise lose. Love, Arizona State wide receiver Jordan Tyson, or one of those big monster offensive tackles, will entice a Cowboys front office that is offense-centric, but they can not get hypnotized by the spectacle of those possibilities. Dallas needs to stay focused and lock in on the two best defensive options available; after all, there will be a plethora of prospects on that side of the ball to choose from.

Defensive Options Galore: Cowboys Should Have Their Choice Of Multiple Blue Chips"

The Cowboys' 2025 defensive depth chart is an equally strong part of the greater point here. While the offense can reasonably retain every starter from this past season and have great success, the defense is about to undergo a complete overhaul. We know Dallas wants to get Jadeveon Clowney, an impending free agent, back, but the only near-certain returnees on the defensive line are Donovan Ezeriuaku, James Houston, Quinnen Williams, and Osa Odighizuwa. There are evenreal questions about Kenny Clark's return, considering the $20m+ the Cowboys would save by cutting him. The linebacking corps should see DeMarvion Overshown, Marist Liufau, and Shemar James in 2026, but I am hoping Dallas brings inat leasttwo new faces to what was clearly their worst unit in 2025.

Even though the Cowboys should avoid offense early, here's what they could be passing up.

Jeremiyah Love

RB
Notre Dame
Junior
4-star recruit
6'0"
214 lbs

History

At Christian Brothers College High School, Jeremiyah Love shone as a featured back on a state title team and excelled in various sports. He led Christian Brothers to an impressive 13-1 season and the 2021 Class 6 state championship. His athletic prowess extended beyond football, as he also ran a remarkable 10.76-second 100m dash and a 22'01" long jump. Before joining Notre Dame, Love continued to impress on the track during spring training, registering a 40-yard dash time of 4.48 seconds, vertical jump of 35 inches, and broad jump of 9'11".

As a true freshman in 2023, Love showcased his home-run potential immediately for Notre Dame. However, he primarily played as an explosive complement rather than a full workload back and featured in 13 games, carrying the ball 71 times for 385 yards and scoring one rushing touchdown. His first significant moment came on a 36-yard touchdown run against Tennessee State, which showcased his speed and burst and made him a national highlight reel sensation early in the season.

In 2024, Love became the driving force behind Notre Dame's offense, leading the team through an impressive 16-game run that culminated in a spot in the College Football Playoff national title game. Love showcased his versatility, amassing 163 carries for 1,125 yards and 17 rushing touchdowns. Additionally, he had 28 receptions for 237 yards and two receiving touchdowns.

Love's performance was nothing short of historic, as he embarked on a remarkable rushing-touchdown streak that shattered the team record for most consecutive games with a rushing touchdown, surpassing Wayne Bullock's previous mark. He also etched his name in Notre Dame's history with signature performances, including a three-touchdown day against Army that tied the school record for 11 straight games with a rushing touchdown at the time. However, in the national championship loss to the Ohio State Buckeyes, Ohio State effectively stifled Notre Dame's ground game, limiting Love's statistical impact to just four carries for three yards. It was evident that the Buckeyes had devised a strategic plan to secure their victory.

In 2025, Love transformed production into national-award credibility in 12 games. He amassed an impressive 199 carries for 1,372 yards and 18 rushing touchdowns, along with 27 catches for 280 yards and three receiving touchdowns. This remarkable performance culminated in an astonishing 21 touchdowns from scrimmage. Notably, Notre Dame itself showcased his talent in a weekly national-award publicity stunt, where he demonstrated his explosive yet efficient running style by rushing for 228 yards against USC. This performance further solidified his position as a top prospect in the draft conversation. By the end of the season, Love's outstanding achievements were recognised with the Doak Walker Award, third place in the Heisman voting, and a remarkable feat of breaking Notre Dame's single-season total touchdown record previously held by Jerome Bettis.