George Pickens officially signed the franchise tag on Wednesday, making him the first Cowboys player to sign the tag in three years.
While the Cowboys didn’t use the tag the last two years, they haven’t been shy about using it. Dallas has used the tag eight times since 2015, starting with former Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant.
Does the Cowboys’ experience with the franchise tag lend any insight into how they might handle Pickens’ situation?
Here’s a look at what happened the last five times the Cowboys used the franchise tag.
Prescott played the 2020 season under the franchise tag after he and the Cowboys failed to reach an agreement on a contract extension. The sticking point was the length of the deal. The Cowboys wanted Prescott to sign a five-year deal, but he was seeking a four-year deal.
2021: Dak Prescott (again)
After being placed on the franchise tag for a second straight offseason, Prescott and the Cowboys agreed on a four-year, $160 million contract. At the time, it was the largest ever contract for the franchise. Prescott broke that record in 2024, signing a four-year extension worth $240 million to make him the highest-paid player in NFL history at the time.