- NFL
George Pickens and Kyle Pitts among players to receive NFL franchise tag
by Mark SchofieldUpdated Mar 3, 2026, 4:26 PM UTC
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - DECEMBER 29: Kyle Pitts Sr. #8 of the Atlanta Falcons warms up before the game against the Los Angeles Rams at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 29, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) Getty Images
Mark Schofield is a former college quarterback and attorney covering the NFL and F1.The road to Super Bowl LXI begins in earnest this week.
While the eyes of the NFL world will be on the prospects in Indianapolis for the 2026 Scouting Combine, decisions that will impact the road to next year’s title game will be made in meeting rooms away from the bright lights of Lucas Oil Stadium. Those decisions include what teams are going to utilize the franchise tag, given the fact that the window to use that designation has already opened.
With that in mind, we’re tracking all the players who have received tags this offseason. For more on how the tags work — and players that could receive the tag — we have you covered here.
George Pickens, WR, Dallas Cowboys
As expected, the Dallas Cowboys are expected to use the franchise tag on wide receiver George Pickens.
According to Judy Battista of NFL.com, Cowboys COO Stephen Jones told the media on Monday in Indianapolis that the team is going to place the tag on the wide receiver, with an eye towards getting a long-term deal done with Pickens ahead of the July 15 deadline:
Dallas has used the franchise tag 11 times, most recently in 2023 with running back Tony Pollard. The Cowboys last used the tag on a wide receiver back in 2015 with Dez Bryant.
According to estimates from Over the Cap, the 2026 franchise tag value for a wide receiver is just shy of $29 million.
Kyle Pitts, TE, Atlanta Falcons
Per multiple reports, new general manager Ian Cunningham is making one of his first big decisions in Atlanta, and it involves standout tight end Kyle Pitts.
Pitts entered the NFL with high expectations, given what he showed on the field at Florida and his ability to play as both a wide receiver and a tight end. While his NFL career got off to a slow start, 2025 was his best season yet, as he hauled in a career-high 88 passes for 928 yards and five touchdowns, also a career-best mark.
Similar to Pickens, the Falcons are hoping to reach a long-term deal with Pitts ahead of the July deadline.
Breece Hall, RB, New York Jets
The New York Jets are using the franchise tag on running back Breece Hall.
There was speculation in recent days that the Jets could decide to use the transition tag on the running back, saving some money in the process. But that would give Hall and his agent, Nicole Lynn, a chance to test his value on the open market and perhaps drive the cost up for the Jets. Instead, New York is using the franchise tag on the running back:
The two sides are still trying to work out a long-term contract extension, but using the tag guarantees that Hall will be in New York for 2026.
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