# Mike Florio: Florio expects the Cowboys, driven by Jerry Jones, to use the franchise tag on receiver George Pickens again for 2027 at roughly $32.75 million, since that figure remains below the top of the receiver market. They also argue the Zay Flowers deal will spur a wave of new receiver contracts.

**Claimed:** Aug 5, 2026
**Pundit:** Mike Florio — https://missedtakes.co/pundits/mike-florio
**Outlet:** NBC Sports — https://missedtakes.co/outlets/nbc-sports
**How it reached us:** published in writing
**Original:** https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/zay-flowers-contract-will-cause-plenty-of-ripple-effects-in-the-receiver-market

One checkable claim, graded on its own against what actually happened.

It names 2 players and teams, each linked to their own record.

Nothing to score yet: this grades once the result is in.

> Surely, Jerry Jones will be inclined to do that.

*(their words, quoted for attribution)*

## The claims

- **George Pickens to be franchise-tagged by Dallas Cowboys**
  - Kind: Contract Calls · About: George Pickens, Dallas Cowboys
  - Verdict: not settled yet

## Who this take is about

- George Pickens — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/george-pickens
- Dallas Cowboys — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/cowboys

## What others said about the same people

- Rich Eisen on Micah Parsons: Eisen expects Myles Garrett to be traded before the draft and says the Browns will then take Abdul Carter with their early first-round pick; they also predict Buffalo will end up paying James Cook and that Micah Parsons will remain a Cowboy and get their money from Dallas, likely late in the process. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/c9216871-a4a2-4676-b3d8-2221daa70413 (scored 0)
- Randy Gurzi on Jordan Hudson: Gurzi predicts the Cowboys' 17-man practice squad, naming each player they expect Dallas to sign, including a surprise addition of released Giants tackle Evan Neal. They also predict Jaydon Blue will be claimed off waivers by another team and that Sam Williams will land elsewhere. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/a37588ef-f76e-4f06-a951-a85a563271d5 (scored 0)
- Jeff Cavanaugh on Marist Liufau: Building their projected Cowboys 53-man roster on defense, Jeff keeps five interior linemen (Kenny Clark, Quentin, Tito Obonia, LT Overton, Bullard), six edge rushers including Von Miller, Malachi Lawrence and Marist Liufau while cutting Sam Williams, four linebackers with Jayshawn Barham starting, six corners including rookie Devin Moore, and four safeties including Marquise Bell. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/d20c4eda-eab4-4a8c-ba13-0e120fdd7d91 (scored 100)
- Jesse Holley on Marist Liufau: Holley expects Jay Toia to stick on the defensive line, Marist Liufau to make the team as a special teamer, Devin Moore to make the roster, and Joe Milton to be the backup quarterback ahead of Sam Howell. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/8ee3ec22-e4c4-4583-826a-c56e4b15f0c5 (scored 100)
- Moe Moton on Marist Liufau: Moton rated Liufau a 9-out-of-10 on their trade probability meter, arguing that with Dallas' crowded edge room they are a long shot to make the 53-man roster and is either a trade or cut candidate. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/80fadb15-ba97-4fde-b3a4-25bf2d8c9b9f (scored 0)
- Pete Prisco on Dallas Cowboys: Prisco gives score predictions for every Week 9 NFL game, picking the Bengals to rout the Falcons in Madrid, the Cowboys to rebound at Indianapolis, and the Jaguars to win in Baltimore without Lamar Jackson. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/dc43909b-bc7f-47aa-b208-5cf7c95844bc (scored 76.19)

## More contract calls

The same kind of call, about other players and teams.

- Adam Schefter on Dallas Goedert: Schefter wrote that Dallas Goedert stays in Philadelphia after the deadline and could even re-sign with the Eagles for 2027. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/5aaf82a8-c15e-4fad-aa91-5a88d9bd2754 (not settled)
- Spencer German on Jared Verse: Picked Houston to beat Cleveland in Week 10 by a final score of 24-20, expecting a one-score game decided by the Texans' pass rush overwhelming a struggling Browns offensive line. Also suggested that a strong second half from Jared Verse would lead the Browns to pick up the fifth-year option. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/89e2488b-27e7-41f5-b3f9-bcd039739d63 (not settled)
- John Middlekauff on C.J. Stroud: Middlekauff previewed Week 11, projecting the Commanders to finish with six or seven wins and the Giants with eight or nine, naming four AFC teams as playoff locks, and picking the Chiefs, Texans, Steelers and 49ers to win their games. Also predicted a top-15 draft slot for Charlie Becker and an eventual big contract for C.J. Stroud if the Texans finish strong. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/1edc2ab2-a022-40b1-9074-e2f0a4a2e0f4 (not settled)
- Tom Pelissero on C.J. Stroud: Pelissero picked the Jaguars as the AFC team to like most, said Lamar Jackson will not be cut or traded by Baltimore, and argued C.J. Stroud is heading for a contract that would make him the league's highest-paid quarterback at around $65 million per year. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/3131c31e-f020-4e06-a65b-23596d9285e7 (not settled)
- Nate Gosney on Daiyan Henley: After the Broncos rescinded the trade, Gosney expects Daiyan Henley to remain with the Chargers for the rest of the 2026 season, but believes the awkward fallout has effectively killed any chance of them signing a new contract with Los Angeles after the season. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/60272861-4ad0-4749-b36a-dcdf09b9213f (not settled)
- Blaine Grisak on Brandon Aiyuk: Grisak argues the Rams should pursue Brandon Aiyuk once the 49ers can release them without owing a game check, suggesting Los Angeles would land them on a cheap veteran-minimum deal with incentives. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/53a1e8be-faa5-4ad4-9cd3-3fc731488c57 (not settled)

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Accuracy is 0-100 against what actually happened. The naive guess is what a strategy requiring no knowledge would have scored on the same call — the difference is the skill, and it is what the MissedTakes Score averages.

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