Most know what the future holds for Pickens in Dallas, and now ESPN is only confirming what we already know.
Dallas Cowboys receiver George Pickens and his future with the organization have been one of the most discussed topics over the past few months.
And now that we are entering the offseason, it will only ramp up.
We have stated for months that the most likely avenue the Cowboys will take regarding George's future is the franchise tag.
Indeed, our Mike Fisher has quoted a team source as saying it will be the "easy path'' to start the process by around March 3.
Set to be roughly $28 million in 2028, the tag gives Pickens the pay raise he is after (though not the multi-year deal he surely seeks) while giving Dallas another year of evaluation on George.
More evaluation? Yes, though 1, 429 yards, and nine touchdowns from 93 receptions might tell Dallas all it needs to know.
Anyway, the franchise tag is the play here. And you heard it here first in terms of it being the specific plan.
When did Fish first report this as factual and sourced info?
As you can read below ... it was on Nov. 27.
And yet here comes ESPN's Dan Graziano, echoing that same sentiment with a sort of breathless tone.
"This may grab as many headlines as any free agent situation in the league, mainly because it's the Cowboys," Graziano writes. "Pickens has been spectacular for Dallas since the team acquired him in a trade with Pittsburgh, catching 93 balls for 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns.
"Based on everything I've heard, the franchise tag is the likely option here."
With the Cowboys already paying top-of-the-market money to Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb, there are those who think having another $34 million contract on offense might make the roster too cap-imbalanced and too top-heavy.
Of course, you can make the case for Pickens, who is fresh off his first Pro Bowl nod and also managed to find himself as a second-team All-Pro as well.
The Cowboys, through several cuts and restructures, could easily have north of $100 million in cap space to use in free agency and for contract extensions.
But this is nothing new. Just like Pickens and the franchise tag.
Our own "Fish'' always asks, do you want your Cowboys news from Frisco or Bristol?
And in this case, Bristol is a few months behind.