NFL
George Pickens Trade Still a Distinct Possibility for Cowboys Before Season
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Dallas Cowboys v Chicago Bears by Michael Reaves | Getty Images
It’s become clear that Cowboys star receiver is not pleased with the outcome we SportsBoom revealed was coming weeks ago, with the team squatting on his rights on a franchise tag and the rumblings that began before the draft about him wanting a trade have not subsided.
The reality for Pickens is Dallas is that the passing game flows through slot receiver CeeDee Lamb, who already got his mega contract and is very close with $60M quarterback Dak Prescott, and owner Jerry Jones is unwilling to make another massive investment in his passing game.
Pickens would also likely be starting at the same reality, no imminent long-term deal, even if he were dealt. However, given some his conflicts over the years, but the specter to get paid sooner somewhere else would be attractive.
Could Pickens Be Pried Away?
“If he’s the No. 1 guy in a different offense, maybe he doesn’t have to play out the tag two years in a row,” one NFL GM told SportsBoom.us.
“That’s what’s going through his mind. Jerry isn’t going to be excited about 2027 draft picks now.”
The GM believes a combination of an ascending player and draft capital might get Jones’s attention.
The Cowboys poured draft capital into the broken defense, as expected, and the onus shouldn’t be there to have to score 40 points a game to win. Pickens has tended to wear out his welcome relatively quickly.
We wouldn’t call a trade before the July 15th deadline during which a player can sign an extension on a franchise tag an impossibility by any stretch, based on the chatter we’ve heard.
But it will be tricky to execute and Jones has clearly budgeted for what Pickens would cost him on the tag in 2026 and 2027.
Pickens is a true downfield threat, and though inconsistent, he can be a game-breaker. He was third on the NFL last season with 1429 receiving yards and fourth in receptions of 20 yards or more. He was largely on his better behavior after falling out of favor in Pittsburgh, but has a reputation for being emotional and high strung, not exactly a novelty for top NFL receivers.
Pickens must sign his franchise tag to facilitate any trade, but that wouldn’t be a problem is he approved of the team seeking his services.
La Canfora has covered over 20 Super Bowls and League Meetings and NFL drafts, building a wide network of sources throughout all aspects of the game. He was an award winning print journalist as well, working at The Detroit Free Press and The Baltimore Sun prior to his first stint at The Washington Post. He has covered sporting events around the world, including two Winter Olympics and all of the 2006 World Cup. He attended his first NFL game in 1978, and would soon kindle what has become a lifelong love and appreciation of the sport. La Canfora is also a professional handicapper, specializing in the NFL, creating a daily sports wagering game show - "Wanna Bet?" He also hosts nationally broadcast NFL radio shows in the US, as well as a daily sports radio show in his hometown of Baltimore, Maryland.