The Atlanta Falcons are looking to move some money around this offseason, and Ian Cunningham has a perfect chance to gain the support of the fanbase by making a big move. But just as momentum was starting to build in Atlanta, it was stripped away, as many fans' ideal signing isn't going anywhere.
One of the biggest splash names set to hit the market was Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens, who was expected to cost a pretty penny in free agency. But he won't even get there, as per ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Cowboys are using the franchise tag on Pickens after a standout season.
The franchise tag will prevent Pickens from even speaking with other teams, including the one that's just down the road from his alma mater, the University of Georgia. What makes this expected news sting worse is that the Falcons are desperate for help in the receiver room alongside Drake London.
Falcons won't get the opportunity to land pair up Drake London and George Pickens
Schefter is often the bearer of bad news in NFL circles, and this is no different. The Dirty Birds were holding out hope that they could sway Pickens, but instead, he'll make $28 million on the franchise tag while buying him time to negotiate a long-term extension with Cowboys' owner/GM Jerry Jones.
To Schefter's credit, this isn't a shocking update. Many people saw this decision coming from a mile away, since through all of Jones' penny-pinching or ego-driven decisions over the years, he seems to be aware that he can't let a player of Pickens' caliber walk in free agency after one season in Dallas.
The 24-year-old had a breakout season in 2025, catching 93 passes for 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns and emerged as the perfect complement to CeeDee Lamb. Now Dak Prescott has two elite WRs to throw to, and Jones knows better than to mess with the Cowboys' offensive success.
On a new contract, Pickens will more than likely net over $30 million per season, which would be a gamble for a team that also needs to pay London. But if Cunningham was able to make it work and pay them both elite WR1 money, it would have done wonders for Michael Penix Jr.'s development.
The silver lining from this news is that the Falcons don't play the Cowboys in 2026, but regardless, with Pickens back in tow, Jeff Ulbrich and the Atlanta defense will have a tough time slowing down this Dallas offense whether it be in the playoffs or further in the future.