The Dallas Cowboys franchise-tagged star wide receiver George Pickens this offseason, and trade speculation hasn’t slowed down in the process.

Pickens will play on the $27.29 million tag unless the Cowboys find a trade partner. Now, there’s another wrinkle, as Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer admitted that Pickens will skip participation for voluntary offseason workouts.

Schottenheimer revealed that on Saturday, when he spoke with the media at rookie minicamp, via The Athletic’s Jon Machota. As for when Pickens will join the team for offseason workouts, Schottenheimer said he’s “not sure when that’s going to be” via Cowboys writer Clarence Hill Jr.

“I’ll be excited whenever I see him,” Schottenheimer told reporters via ESPN’s Todd Archer.

Schottenheimer also ruled out a trade and said the Cowboys haven’t discussed a trade with Pickens, per Machota. The coach also indicated no surprise over Pickens taking the franchise tag, as Machota wrote via X.

“That’s not what we plan on doing,” Schottenheimer told reporters via Machota. “We see George being a part of this football team, having a great 2026 and hopefully beyond.”

Another Contract Holdout in Dallas Could Brew

The Cowboys have seen this script before — a star player wants a bigger contract and holds out into training camp.

While Schottenheimer talked about voluntary offseason workouts, Pickens could be on the trajectory to miss mandatory team activities if he doesn’t get a new deal. It happened as recently as last year when linebacker Micah Parsons didn’t participate in training camp, and the Cowboys traded him to the Green Bay Packers.

Previously, Cowboys star  wide receiver CeeDee Lamb missed training camp in 20204 until he signed his four-year, $136 million contract extension. The Cowboys likewise moved through similar scenarios with former offensive lineman Zach Martin in 2023, former running back Ezekiel Eliott in 2019 and former wide receiver Dez Bryant in 2015.

Pickens and the Cowboys don’t have until training camp to finalize a deal in this case because the NFL has a July 15 deadline for franchise-tagged players to reach a long-term contract extension.

Brian Schottenheimer Confident in Year Two With George Pickens

While Schottenheimer gave some details on Pickens’ status with the team, the coach expressed confidence over Pickens’ upcoming second year in the Cowboys offense from an on-field standpoint.

“I just think where he can continue to go and grow is scary, because what he did last year was amazing,” Schottenheimer said via Machota. “The more you watch the film, the more you see it. You’re just kind of like, ‘Whoa.’ It’s just different.”

Pickens produced a career year with the Cowboys with 93 receptions for 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns. The former Pittsburgh Steelers standout also made his first Pro Bowl in the process.

Brian Schottenheimer Backs Cowboys’ Previous Stance on George Pickens

Schottenheimer comments on Saturday simply doubled down on the Cowboys’ standing with Pickens. Cowboys co-owner Stephen Jones previousy claimed that the Cowboys expect to keep Pickens for 2026.

“We have no intention of moving George,” Jones told reporters on April 23 via DallasCowboys.com’s Patrik Walker. “We’re fired up about him signing his [tag], because it means he’s ready to come in here and get to work. … We have zero intention of moving [him].”

As Walker noted, co-owner Jerry Jones expressed plans to keep Pickens in March, and Schottenheimer spoke similarly before Saturday’s press conference.