Cowboys' George Pickens joins Eagles' AJ Brown and Steelers' Aaron Rodgers atop the NFL's top unfinished business
Move over, A.J. Brown and Aaron Rodgers. George Pickens has just joined you atop the NFLs pile of unfinished offseason business.With the rest of the league readying to shore up remaining roster holes following last weeks draft, Pickens news barged into the cycle on Monday thanks to multiple reports that he has not signed his franchise tag. This despite multiple prior reports heading into the first day of the draft, which indicated that the Dallas Cowboys wideout intended to sign.That news initially sent shockwaves through the league on Thursday, as Pickens signing the one-year deal would make him eligible for any potential trades during and after the draft. ESPNs Adam Schefter reported on a Monday appearance on The Pat McAfee Show that Pickens wanted a long-term contract or a trade. However, a video featuring those comments from the ESPN insider was later taken down from the shows X account, and Schefter later made an additional appearance reporting that Pickens franchise tag remained unsigned.The confusion and Pickens lack of signing the tag potentially sets up another roller coaster summer for the Cowboys, who spent last offseason grappling with contract extension and trade reports surrounding star pass rusher Micah Parsons. Parsons and Pickens share the same agent, David Mulugheta of Athletes First. Parsons was ultimately traded to the Green Bay Packers prior to the season, after rounds of public jousting between the Cowboys and their edge rusher.Now Pickens contract situation will come into acute focus over the next several weeks and months. He has until July 15 to negotiate a long-term deal with the Cowboys. After that point, he will have to play out the 2026 season on a one-year fully-guaranteed deal for $27.3 million. Nearly two weeks ago, Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones informed Mulugheta that the team would not be doing a long-term extension with Pickens this offseason. Until Pickens signs the franchise tag, Dallas will not have the ability to fine him for missing mandatory activities effectively giving Pickens the ability to hold out as long as 10 weeks into the regular season.The first significant marker for the Cowboys and Pickens is now the full-squad mandatory minicamp that is scheduled for June 16-18. As of now, it appears Dallas has no plans to trade Pickens but that was the belief about trading Parsons at this time last year. The timeline of happens next and when (or if) Pickens signs his tag is now in his hands.Of course, hes not the only headlining player that is going to draw a spotlight heading toward the June mandatory camps. Brown is still in a holding pattern with the Philadelphia Eagles as he awaits an anticipated trade to the New England Patriots, while the Pittsburgh Steelers are still waiting on word from quarterback Aaron Rodgers about his plans for the 2026 season.What we know about those two situations A.J. Brown and the Philadelphia EaglesAny trade of Brown has been on hold until after June 1, when the Eagles can split his $43.4 million salary cap hit over the next two seasons, rather than taking the full accelerated hit on the 2026 books. That has put Browns availability on a back burner for the entirety of this offseason. However, the Eagles pursuit of a package containing a first-round pick in exchange for Brown had not changed as recently as last week, according to several league sources that spoke to Yahoo Sports about Philadelphias asking price. With the New England Patriots believed to be the Eagles chosen trade partner, that demand of a first-round pick complicates a deal. With the 2027 draft expected to yield a deep and talented class of prospects, many franchises have balked at giving up 2027 draft capital in trades. However, where it concerns Brown, theres a possibility the Eagles would be open to pushing first-round draft compensation back one year, giving the Patriots the flexibility to deal a 2028 first rather than a choice in 2027. As of now, its believed a deal is still on track for a resolution in June.Aaron Rodgers and the Pittsburgh SteelersThe Steelers offseason at quarterback seems to following last years design, which was a sustained preparation to sign Rodgers and surround him with a win now team. With that in mind, Pittsburgh didnt address the quarterback room until the sixth round of the 2025 draft clearly keeping the teams starting job open for Rodgers. Last weeks draft featured much of the same under new head coach Mike McCarthy, as the Steelers waited until the middle of the third round to select Penn State quarterback Drew Allar. That shaped up Pittsburghs quarterback depth chart into the trio of Allar, second-year player Will Howard and veteran Mason Rudolph. Which once again leaves a door wide open for Rodgers, who has kept a low profile for most of this offseason.The key date here? The Steelers mandatory veteran minicamp is slated for June 2-4. While Pittsburgh hasnt set any hard deadlines publicly, its believed the coaching staff would like to have Rodgers in the fold by that camp if he is ultimately planning to continue his career for another season. Interestingly, his former coach Mike Tomlin opined about Rodgers future in his new job as an analyst for NBC, predicting the veteran quarterback would indeed pay for the Steelers in 2026.Man, if youve got a gun to my head, Id say its AR Aaron, Tomlin said of the Steelers starting QB next season. I just think, being around him for the 12 months Im around him, hes got a love affair with the game of football. And not only the game, but the process.I think he has an addiction to that. And theres only one way to feed it. And certainly, he is still capable and in really good shape. I think at the end of the day, hell play football.
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