George Pickens is ready to put pen to paper.
The talented wide receiver will sign his franchise tag with the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported.
By signing the tag, Pickens will play next year on a one-year deal worth $27.3 million.
“We’ve made a decision that we’re going to have George play under the franchise tag, which won’t be a first for us,” executive vice president of personnel Stephen Jones said on Wendesday. “So there won’t be negotiations on a long-term deal. But that’s certainly not a first for this organization and certainly won’t be a first in the league in terms of this decision as we move forward.”
The timing of the news is curious, as it comes just hours before the first round of the NFL Draft kicks off in Pittsburgh.
As soon as he officially signs the deal, Pickens is eligible to be traded. He will also now face financial penalties if he doesn’t report to mandatory minicamp in June.
Pickens, acquired last off-season in a trade with Pittsburgh, had career highs in catches (93), yards receiving (1,429) and touchdowns (nine) for one of the best offences in the NFL last season. Dallas had one of the worst defences in the league and finished 7-9-1, missing the playoffs for the second year in a row.
The Cowboys own the No. 12 and No. 20 picks in the first round of the NFL Draft on Thursday.
— With files from Associated Press