If the Dallas Cowboys don't lock up George Pickens this offseason, the front office could be staring down a major decision: double down on a proven playmaker or roll the dice on another high-upside, high-risk wideout.
Let’s be clear-trading for Pickens last offseason was a gamble. The former Steelers receiver came to Dallas with undeniable talent but also a reputation that had worn thin in Pittsburgh.
He was explosive on the field, sure-but also in the locker room, on the sidelines, and sometimes even on social media. Pittsburgh had seen enough and dealt him to the Cowboys for a pair of mid-to-late-round picks.
And what did Dallas get in return? A breakout star.
Pickens didn’t just settle in-he thrived. He cleaned up the off-field concerns, clicked with Dak Prescott, and turned in a career year.
We’re talking third-most receiving yards in the league and a personal best in touchdowns. That production earned him his first All-Pro nod and, maybe more importantly, put him in a position to cash in as he hits free agency for the first time.
Now comes the hard part. Pickens is expected to command north of $30 million per year on the open market.
The Cowboys, of course, would love to keep him in the fold, and they have the leverage to do it quickly by using the $28 million franchise tag. That move would buy them time to work out a long-term deal-or at the very least, keep him off the open market.
But if the Cowboys can’t get something done, one potential fallback plan has surfaced-and it comes with plenty of red flags.
Brandon Aiyuk.
Yes, the 49ers wideout has All-Pro potential. Yes, he’s flashed elite ability when healthy. But there’s a lot more to unpack here, and not all of it is promising.
For starters, Aiyuk missed the entire 2025 season after tearing his ACL. That’s a major injury, especially for a receiver who relies on precision route-running and burst. There’s no guarantee he returns to form-and even less certainty that he does it quickly.
Then there’s the off-field dynamic. Aiyuk’s relationship with the 49ers deteriorated to the point where GM John Lynch didn’t mince words when asked about the situation.
“I think it’s safe to say that he’s played his last snap with the Niners,” Lynch said. “It’s unfortunate. A situation that just went awry.”
That’s not the kind of baggage you want to take on when your offense is already built around two strong personalities in CeeDee Lamb and Dak Prescott. Chemistry matters, and Pickens proved this season that he could fit in and contribute without disrupting the locker room. He and Lamb were tight all year, and that bond translated into one of the most dangerous receiving duos in football.
Aiyuk, meanwhile, is coming off a four-year, $120 million deal. Even if San Francisco eats part of that contract to move him, the cost savings for Dallas would be marginal-and the risk significantly higher.
It’s not just about talent. It’s about timing.
The Cowboys don’t have the luxury of trial and error right now. After finishing 7-9-1 and missing the playoffs for the second straight year, despite fielding one of the league’s top offenses, there’s no room for another rebuild experiment at wide receiver.
The defense was historically bad in 2025, and this team can't afford to take a step back on offense while trying to fix the other side of the ball.
Replacing Pickens with Aiyuk would be starting from scratch and hoping for lightning to strike twice. But the NFL doesn’t usually reward hope. It rewards consistency, chemistry, and proven production.
The Cowboys already found gold once with Pickens. The smart move now?
Keep digging in the same spot. Use the tag, get the deal done, and keep one of the league’s most dynamic offenses intact.
Because in a season where everything else needs fixing, this is one thing they got right.