Could George Pickens Really Be on the Trade Block? Inside the Cowboys’ Contract Conundrum
The Dallas Cowboys have a decision to make - and it’s a big one. Wide receiver George Pickens, fresh off a breakout season that earned him his first Pro Bowl nod, is eligible to hit free agency.
But the Cowboys aren’t planning to let him walk. At least, not without a fight.
The team is expected to place the franchise tag on Pickens in the coming weeks, a move that would lock him in for 2026 at a guaranteed $28 million. It’s a classic placeholder tactic, giving both sides more time to negotiate a long-term extension. But here’s where things get interesting - and a little murky.
NFL insider Ian Rapoport reported on Super Bowl Sunday that a tag-and-trade scenario is “considered to be a possibility” in Dallas. That alone would raise eyebrows. But what really set off alarms was the idea that the Cowboys might be willing to move Pickens for something as modest as a second-round pick.
Let’s unpack this.
Pickens Has Earned His Spot - And Then Some
Pickens arrived in Dallas via a trade with the Steelers last spring, and he wasted no time making his presence felt. He posted career highs across the board - 93 catches, 1,429 yards, and nine touchdowns - and became a go-to weapon for Dak Prescott in crunch time.
Inside the building at The Star, the consensus is clear: trading Pickens would be a massive misstep. Players, coaches, and scouts alike see him as an essential piece of the offense - and of the team’s championship aspirations.
“He’s a game-changer,” Prescott said. “Whichever way they got to do it, he’s an important piece of this offense, an important piece of what we’re trying to do.”
The franchise tag would buy the Cowboys time - until July 15, to be exact - to hammer out a long-term deal. And while $28 million might seem steep for one season, a multi-year extension could significantly lower his cap hit in 2026, potentially to under $10 million. That’s a bargain for a player producing at an All-Pro level, especially while the team is still operating in the so-called “Dak Window” of contention.
So Why the Trade Talk?
That’s the million-dollar question. Why would the Cowboys even entertain the idea of moving a 24-year-old Pro Bowl receiver in his prime? And why would they float the idea of accepting a second-round pick in return - a price that feels far below market value?
There’s no clear answer. Maybe it’s a bit of strategic posturing.
Maybe it’s a negotiating tactic. Or maybe it’s just noise - the kind of offseason chatter that tends to swirl around big-name players with big contracts looming.
Owner Jerry Jones hasn’t exactly poured cold water on the speculation, but he has spoken glowingly about Pickens and his future in Dallas.
“I’m talking to George all the time by virtue of my excitement for him,” Jones said this week. “He’s better than, as far as what he contributed to our team, showing the potential that he could contribute. I’m looking forward to getting things worked out so George can be a Cowboy a long time.”
That’s not quite a contract announcement, but it’s also not the kind of thing you say about a player you’re looking to ship out of town.
The Agent Factor
Pickens is represented by David Mulugheta, the same agent who helped orchestrate Micah Parsons’ stunning exit to Green Bay last summer. That situation caught many in Dallas off guard, and it’s fair to wonder whether similar leverage tactics could be in play here.
If Pickens and his camp are aiming for a deal in the neighborhood of CeeDee Lamb’s $34 million per year, things could get complicated. The franchise tag could be seen as a slight - or at least a delay - and that could lead to some tough conversations behind closed doors. In a worst-case scenario, Pickens could threaten to hold out, forcing the Cowboys to consider granting permission for his camp to seek a trade.
But even then, the idea of settling for a second-round pick doesn’t add up. This isn’t a player on the decline or a locker room liability.
Pickens is ascending, and his production speaks for itself. If he were truly on the market, the bidding would likely start much higher - and include multiple teams willing to pay a premium for a top-tier receiver.
The Bigger Picture
There’s also some revisionist history floating around. Rapoport suggested that Dallas has a habit of trading away star players for draft picks.
But that’s not exactly the norm. Aside from the Herschel Walker blockbuster in 1989 and the Parsons deal last year, this isn’t something the Cowboys do often.
Two trades in nearly four decades doesn’t qualify as a trend.
So where does that leave us?
At this point, a Pickens trade feels more like a doomsday scenario than a likely outcome. The Cowboys have every reason to keep him - and to pay him.
He’s young, productive, and already a cornerstone of the offense. Prescott trusts him.
The coaching staff believes in him. And the front office, despite its occasional flair for drama, knows the value of a true No. 1 receiver.
Unless something drastic changes, expect the Cowboys to tag Pickens, keep negotiating, and ultimately lock him up for the long haul.
But until pen meets paper, the whispers won’t stop. And in Dallas, nothing is ever truly off the table.