The Dallas Cowboys upgraded their offense in a huge way last month, acquiring standout wide receiver George Pickens in a trade from the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The decision to trade for Pickens was shocking, as many thought the Cowboys would look towards the free-agent market after not addressing the unit in the 2025 NFL Draft. However, Dallas took a big swing on the 24-year-old wide receiver in hopes that he and CeeDee Lamb can be one of the best WR duos in the NFL this season.
That said, Pickens wasn’t the only wide receiver from the AFC North that the Cowboys had on their radar this offseason.
Cowboys Expressed Interest in Trading for Ravens WR Rashod Bateman
According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, Dallas was one of several teams that were involved or had interest in Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman. Fowler mentioned that Bateman was almost traded this offseason as he went to the Ravens to ask for a new deal.
Fowler said the Ravens essentially said no to Bateman, but permitted him to seek a trade on the open market. Hence, the Cowboys’ interest in the veteran wide receiver.
That said, once the Ravens saw the interest Bateman received, they ultimately signed him to a three-year, $36.75 million contract extension, which included $20 million guaranteed.
Even though the Cowboys came up short in their pursuit of the veteran wideout, they and other teams forced the Ravens to overpay Bateman, who still had two years left on the deal he signed last year.
Last offseason, the 25-year-old wide receiver signed a two-year, $12.87 million extension. He had the best year of his career in 2024, posting 45 receptions (72 targets) for 456 yards and nine touchdowns.
That said, did his production in 2024 warrant a three-year extension? Probably not. However, when teams like the Cowboys and Packers are lurking in the background, the Ravens lost all leverage at that point. They would rather overpay than let him go to Dallas, where he might’ve looked better playing alongside Lamb.
Nonetheless, Baltimore will hope that Bateman is worth the price tag going forward. Meanwhile, the Cowboys are ecstatic about landing Pickens, who could be in store for a huge payday if he has a big 2025 season. Pickens is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent in 2026.