George Pickens is about to become one of the most talked-about names of the NFL offseason-and for good reason.
Coming off a breakout campaign where he posted 1,429 receiving yards on 93 catches with nine touchdowns, the 25-year-old wide receiver has firmly established himself as a premier playmaker. He was a consistent force for the Cowboys all season long, showing off a rare blend of physicality, route-running precision, and highlight-reel hands. Now, with free agency on the horizon, every team in need of a game-changing receiver is watching closely.
But here’s the twist: Pickens might not even make it to the open market.
According to reports, the Cowboys plan to use the franchise tag on Pickens in the coming weeks. That would lock him into a one-year, fully guaranteed deal worth $28.8 million, keeping him in Dallas-for now.
But don’t rule out movement just yet. A tag-and-trade scenario is very much in play, especially if the Cowboys and Pickens can’t find common ground on a long-term extension.
That’s where the New York Jets come into focus.
Armed with roughly $83 million in cap space and a war chest of draft picks, the Jets are one of the few teams in the league that could realistically pull off a blockbuster move for Pickens. They hold four picks in the first two rounds of the 2026 NFL Draft, and three first-rounders in 2027-including one that could end up being a Dallas pick. That kind of draft capital gives them the flexibility to make a splash without mortgaging the future.
And the fit? It’s almost too perfect.
Pairing George Pickens with Garrett Wilson would give the Jets one of the most dynamic receiving duos in the league. Pickens thrives in contested catch situations-he ranked in the 80th percentile league-wide in that category last season.
Simply put, if you throw it near him, odds are he’s coming down with it. Just ask Dak Prescott how much easier his job was with Pickens out wide.
Wilson, meanwhile, is a technician. He gets open-often.
He finished in the 81st percentile in open-target percentage, showing the kind of separation skills that made him the Offensive Rookie of the Year. Together, they’d form a lethal one-two punch: Wilson stretches the field and finds space, while Pickens punishes defenders at the catch point.
It’s a nightmare for defensive coordinators.
This wouldn’t be the first time the Jets and Cowboys have done business, either. The two franchises worked together on the Quinnen Williams trade at last year’s deadline, and by all accounts, that deal went smoothly. That kind of front office rapport matters when it comes to complex trades like this one.
Of course, the Cowboys’ cap situation complicates their ability to retain Pickens long-term. They’re projected to be $29 million over the cap heading into the offseason. Unless they make some major moves to clear space, signing Pickens to the kind of deal he’s expected to command-Spotrac projects a four-year, $122.4 million contract-might be out of reach.
That opens the door for a team like the Jets to swoop in.
If New York’s leadership-GM Darren Mougey and head coach Aaron Glenn-believes Pickens is the missing piece to elevate their offense, they have the assets and the space to make it happen. And with the quarterback situation still in flux, surrounding any potential signal-caller with elite weapons could be the smartest move they make all offseason.
Bottom line: George Pickens is a star entering his prime. If the Cowboys can’t lock him down, the Jets should be first in line to make their pitch.