Which franchise tag for Pickens? Exclusive vs non-exclusive

[tm1119]

Those aren’t allowed any longer.

I was going to say this. I’m not even sure what kind of “creative element” Werder could possibly be referring to. Pickens and his agent are most likely just looking for the most possible guaranteed $ over the next 3 seasons so he can hit the market again at age 27.

 

[big dog cowboy]

post of the morning

No

 

[visionary]

Werder and Mosher debated this on X.....
I can honestly see both sides but exclusive stop other teams from setting the terms of your player's contract IF you wanna keep him. It's why it's usually reserved for QBs or special elite players that teams have no intention of losing.









https://www.si.com/nfl/2026-nfl-franchise-tag-explainer-details-contract-amounts-potential-targets

Franchise tag details​

The franchise tag is more common than the transition tag, but here’s how each one works:

Transition tag: If applied to a player, he gets the higher figure between either 120% of his previous salary or the average of the top 10 cap hits at his position over the previous five years. The player can negotiate with other teams during free agency and if he receives an offer sheet, his current team can match. If the team doesn’t match, the player leaves for the contract offered and the original team doesn’t get compensation.

Franchise tag: There are the exclusive and nonexclusive franchise tag options. On the exclusive tag, a player can’t negotiate with other teams. However, they also get paid more, either the average of the top five cap hits from the 2025 campaign at the player’s position or 120% of their previous salary. The nonexclusive tag permits a player to negotiate with every other team. If the player signs an offer sheet, his original team can match and retain him on that deal. If that team elects not to match, it receives two first-round picks from the acquiring team. Furthermore, the nonexclusive tag pays the player the average of the top five cap hits over the past five seasons at the player’s position or 120% of their prior salary, whichever is more lucrative.

People who still have this question should be taught

Football 101
How many players on an NFL team
What is the difference between zone and man
What do routes mean

 

[DUO_CORE]

Sign him now so the focus is on the defense and George has time to get some teeth jewelry before camp.

 

[lkelly]

Two #1s for Pickens would be a trade haul. Jerry should be thrilled to get that. Getting a JSN, Dez or Lamb type player on a rookie deal and you can afford to invest in the defense as well.

I think Ed Werder was last relevant as a reporter at the same time the Cowboys were last relevant as a playoff contender.

 

[AstroPilota]

draft a WR who you can have for 4 years at a lower rate, sign me up

Thus why I advocate the non-exclusive tag. We either keep him or get a guaranteed 2 first-round picks, vs getting fleeced in a trade. The whole idea of contracts with these NFL athletes has become FUBAR. You can no longer just count on 4 years of contract-bliss with these prima-donna's. Drama is guaranteed.

 

[Carson]

draft a WR who you can have for 4 years at a lower rate, sign me up

WR class is not great outside of maybe 2 guys

 

[Flamma]

I don’t think the team has ever once used the non exclusive tag.

If Jerry wants to keep the player, he doesn’t want another team negotiating the deal he would have to match.

I don't know what Jerry has done historically with exclusive or non exclusive. But the overwhelming tags are non exclusive. Remember when they tagged Pollard? Of course that was non exclusive. If some team wants to give up 2 first round picks for him, they'll take it. Dak would be exclusive. DLaw was probably exclusive. It depends on the player.

 

[Q_the_man]

A 2nd and 3rd? No thanks

I’ll keep the 1,400 yard receiver.

And close to a 80 million dollar cap hit for a QB and 2 WRs

 

[fivetwos]

I don't know what Jerry has done historically with exclusive or non exclusive. But the overwhelming tags are non exclusive. Remember when they tagged Pollard? Of course that was non exclusive. If some team wants to give up 2 first round picks for him, they'll take it. Dak would be exclusive. DLaw was probably exclusive. It depends on the player.

That might be. I just don’t recall it ever being mentioned that any of those guys were non exclusive. It’s possible I’m wrong, but I’ll stick with one thing….if Jerry wants to keep the player he won’t want to have to match a deal someone else offered him, so Pickens probably gets the exclusive.

 

[Q_the_man]

WR class is not great outside of maybe 2 guys

Puka wasn't suppose to be the best WR in the NFL coming out of college. No one had him been a star.

Wr classes are never that great. 75 percent of the WRs in the NFL were drafted after the 2nd round.

Detroit drafted WRs in the top 5 for 3 straight years and came out with one great WR. Nothing is guaranteed as two were not great. 33% chance and these are top 5 picks.

 

[blueblood70]

post of the morning

You sure applaud some posts that are actually not good,

there's no way I take JUST a second and 3rd you, keep him in that scenario..

now you want to give us a second a third and give up Xavier worthy,

I'll trade you George Pickens for those three , because at least it gives us a receiver in return that would be pretty good on the other side of Lamb versus trying to be the guy where he's at now, but that's not enough compensation to give up George Pickens, we're only talking about getting a first round pick or multiple picks and a player, or we're not doing it, it makes zero sense to only take a 2nd and 3rd for that kind of talent...

Besides the fact, why would you make it that easy for the Kansas City Chiefs to all of a sudden get back on track Hell no make em have it make them work for it...

 

[blueblood70]

I don't mind nonexclusive, let other teams bid for his services, and let's see what his value is..

If it's less than everyone thought, then the agent and player might step back and take something close to what the tag is 28 to $30 million and be happy, But at least they'll get to see it, and the Cowboys will get to see it where is his worth lands.

This gives them time to negotiate and negotiating from a place where everyone has actual information on what others think of George Pickens other teams in the way they go after him will tell us everything the offers, he gets and again if it's then that works out for the Cowboys.

 

[gimmesix]

I agree with Werder. Another team could put some kind of poison pill in the contract that the Cowboys couldn't or wouldn't want to match.

Considering the history with big contracts, the Cowboys should just franchise tag Pickens. It will be a big enough challenge to get it done and signed by the season opener.

Poison pills are no longer allowed. I believe giving the non-exclusive tag allows Dallas to see what his market is and decide if it would rather have the two first-round picks or pay him that market price.

However, I don't think any team is going to try to sign Pickens if it costs them two first-round picks.

 

[Vtwin]

This is a great situation to use the non-exclusive tag.

Pickens is going to get top money. The Cowboys won't likely have to match an offer they wouldn't have had to make anyways. As far as I know, and I could be wrong, but putting some sort of poison pill in an offer to a free agent with a non-exclusive tag has been generally made verbotten.

The two first round picks that would come from letting him sign with another team is a very nice consolation prize. The argument could be made they are worth more than buying the luxury of a second top tier, top paid WR. Where the team is at regarding serious contention plays a big role in that argument.

I'd rule out the exclusive tag and decide between non-exclusive or just getting him signed. I'd have already made this decision.

https://www.si.com/nfl/2022/05/20/nfl-poison-pill-contract-holmgren-hutchinson

 

[sunalsorises]

With the way Jerry negotiates he should do the non-exclusive and let another team reach a deal that he can match or take the picks.

 

[KingCorcoran]

I think it depends on how close the Cowboys think they really are to winning the NFC and competing for a ring. If they think they are right there (after a lot of positive changes to the current roster via draft and free agency), then use the exclusive tag. But if they are in a re-build, I'd use the non-exclusive tag, hoping someone would take him and give us the (2) first-round picks.

I don't think anyone here believes we are that close to being in the Super Bowl in 2026. I could be wrong, and always hope we do make it, but it is what it is.

Will the Cowboys know if they’ve made sufficient positive changes by EOB March 3, 2026?

 

[KingCorcoran]

How long has it been since a tagged player was traded for two first round picks because his team refused to match an offer?

 

[Coogiguy03]

You sure applaud some posts that are actually not good,

there's no way I take JUST a second and 3rd you, keep him in that scenario..

now you want to give us a second a third and give up Xavier worthy,

I'll trade you George Pickens for those three , because at least it gives us a receiver in return that would be pretty good on the other side of Lamb versus trying to be the guy where he's at now, but that's not enough compensation to give up George Pickens, we're only talking about getting a first round pick or multiple picks and a player, or we're not doing it, it makes zero sense to only take a 2nd and 3rd for that kind of talent...

Besides the fact, why would you make it that easy for the Kansas City Chiefs to all of a sudden get back on track Hell no make em have it make them work for it...

I ALSO APPLAUD POSTS that aren't longer than entire newspapers you love to write!!

 

[big dog cowboy]

You sure applaud some posts that are actually not good

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