It wouldn't be a Dallas Cowboys training camp without Jerry Jones stirring up something. It has nothing to do with any contract holdouts or injuries of any kind. Instead, the Maxx Crosby dreams are still alive. That's when Jerry Jones said he didn't give up on trying to get him. He didn't provide any more context, but it made some heads turn, reasonably so.
There's been chatter on how to get Crosby. One of those scenarios is Dallas trading George Pickens and a first-round pick to the Las Vegas Raiders. Now, that may not be necessary, and the Cowboys can retain their All-Pro receiver. As the famous saying goes, "bleep those picks."
That's what Cowboys film analyst and insider Bryan Broaddus brought up on 105.3 The Fan when he floated the idea of trading Pickens and a third-rounder, or a first-rounder and other picks with no players involved.
"If it's no player involved, then we're looking at the (first-round pick) potentially in 2027 and then the (third-round pick) in 2028."
Cowboys have a path to keep George Pickens and still trade for Maxx Crosby
The Cowboys sending the Raiders a haul of draft picks without losing Pickens is likely the best outcome.
For the Raiders, a deal for Pickens may be more enticing, simply because their WR depth chart could look a lot better. If Jones proposes as much as Pickens and a first-round pick, it's a large ask for Cowboys fans to get behind, but the Raiders have every reason to go for it.
The Raiders' WRs are Tre Tucker, Jack Bech and Jalen Nailor. Adding Pickens would make things easier for Fernando Mendoza's early NFL career. After last season, any front office should be thrilled with the idea of taking Pickens.
The Joneses will be in a heck of a position next year to sign Pickens to a long-term extension, mostly because CeeDee Lamb is making $34 million a year, and Pickens' market value is $30.6 million per Spotrac. There is still the question of how that financial burden will be met with two guys in the same position making that amount.
If we're talking about trading, that's one thing. But the Cowboys are in a position to compete now. They can't trade the present in Pickens, but they would be excused for trading future picks to go out and get Crosby.
The idea is still up for grabs, but as we know, Jones doesn't like to reveal too much. There's something on the table somehow. We just don't know when or where, or even if it's coming.
Crosby is no doubt the game-changer the Cowboys need to break their 30-year curse. It may still be in the works, and if Pickens can stay on the other side, that would be the biggest win of all.
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