How the Dallas Cowboys could continue to use the franchise tag in future years

Speaking at the NFL Annual League Meeting on Tuesday in Phoenix, Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones spoke on the team’s franchise tag usage and its plans to use the tag not only this year on wide receiver George Pickens, but for years to come.

“The franchise tag is an integral part of all teams,” Jones said. “But certainly an integral part of our strategy over the next two or three years as we look at how to keep the best players we can have relative to the cap.”

The strategy could make sense with the Cowboys having the fourth-most future cap space (beyond 2026) dedicated to void year money -- or contract money that’s been pushed down the line to maximize current years. In 2028, the team has $24.9 million in void money in place, $73.6 million in 2029, $52.6 million in 2030 and $28.6 million in 2031. While the current salary cap of $301.2 million will grow year-by-year, the future dedications are already stacking up. It’s also something that Jones and the Cowboys haven’t been afraid to use in consecutive years in the past, as Dallas placed a tag on a player for six consecutive seasons from 2018 to 2023.

While the franchise tag would assume more money toward the cap in one given season, it prevents the Cowboys from continuing to dedicate money in future years to a given player.

“The collective bargaining agreement clearly anticipates the franchise tag and that’s part of what you sign up for in the NFL, when you’re playing in the NFL or you’re a team in the NFL, and the franchise tag is there for a purpose. It’s to benefit the process to go ahead and put your team together. We are availing ourselves of it.”

How George Pickens’ tag situation applies

The big question that has permeated already through the Cowboys’ offseason is when the team will get a long-term deal done for Pickens.

The two sides have until July 15 to work out a deal beyond 2026 before he would be slated to be right back in the same scenario next offseason. However, the two sides have yet to connect on negotiations for a potential long-term deal, and the Cowboys do not appear motivated to do so at this point in time.

“We’ll all be working within the timeframe of the conditions of the franchise tag,” Jones said. “It should play itself out is the best way for me to say it. Make no mistake about it, we have long-term plans in mind for Pickens.”

The gamble that Dallas plays in this instance is if Pickens holds out from voluntary and mandatory offseason activities until a long-term deal is worked out. On Monday, head coach Brian Schottenheimer said he hasn’t received any assurances from Pickens that he will be present.

But with the tag apparently in play for years to come, will it become a priority at all before July 15 to call Pickens’ representation?

Future franchise tag candidates

With Pickens’ tag in place for 2026, who could be tagged in future seasons? Let’s take a look. Keep in mind that the tag can only be used once per season, and it’s used to retain top talent at a one-year salary number that hovers right around the top five at a given position.

Funny enough, it very well could be George Pickens getting the tag once again in 2027. If the two sides don’t come to a long-term agreement before July 15, he will be in line to hit free agency once again next offseason unless the Cowboys trade him beforehand. To prevent him from hitting the open market, a second tag can be placed. If the same scenario plays out, they would not be able to place a reasonable third tag in 2028 without taking on a massive salary.

Kicker Brandon Aubrey is next in line to potentially see the tag placed, as Jones said on Tuesday that he is comfortable seeing his three-time Pro Bowl kicker sign the second-round tender contract of one-year, $5.77 million in 2026. While the team has tried to get a long-term deal done and has offered a contract that would make him the highest-paid kicker in the league multiple times, Aubrey elected to test the restricted free agency waters. If no team bites on an offer sheet, he will be required to sign the tender contract which would theoretically put him in unrestricted free agency in 2027. Then, the Cowboys could place a franchise tag with an expected tag number of $7.27 million, according to Over the Cap.

The only other player that could realistically play himself into a tag situation in 2027 would be linebacker DeMarvion Overshown. Back-to-back torn ACLs in his first two seasons muddy the waters of what Overshown’s true potential looks like, but a big 2026 season could put him right back in a favorable situation. The potential he showed in 13 games in 2024 should offer excitement for his potential future involvement, but 2025’s six games didn’t necessarily compound on that previous success. With a return to form in the final year of his rookie deal, the linebacker franchise tag (expected $30.2 million in 2027) could be used to make sure it’s a long-term success thing and not a one-year pop.

In 2028, the possibilities open up a bit wider, and it could even factor in players that are not on the roster yet. Defensive tackle Quinnen Williams figured to be a contract extension candidate this offseason after the Cowboys acquired him at the trade deadline in November, but the two sides instead decided to restructure his deal and push money down the line.

Fellow defensive tackle Kenny Clark may not end up being worth a salary number worthy of a franchise tag if he hits free agency in 2028, but a big two-season run could put him in that mix.The same could be said for fellow new addition and former Packer teammate Rashan Gary. If he explodes into being an alpha pass rusher in Dallas, then a tag could make sense to keep him around for an additional season.

Another outside candidate includes center Cooper Beebe if he’s not extended prior to hitting his first free agency in 2028.

Dallas Cowboys’ history of using the franchise tag

This story was originally published April 1, 2026 at 12:15 PM.

Nick Harris

Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Nick Harris is the Dallas Cowboys beat reporter for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. He has experience working on the beat for DallasCowboys.com and previous work experience at Yahoo Sports/Rivals and 247Sports.