The Dallas Cowboys knew they had taken a risky gamble when they traded for George Pickens. As talented as the wide receiver is, and as much as he has shown the potential to be a star, he also comes with some baggage and well-documented character issues.
Pickens did more than well in his first year in Arlington, but the Cowboys are now stuck in a tough spot with him. There are risks associated with giving him a big, long-term contract, and he's not likely to want to play under the franchise tag.
Considering that, and the fact that the Cowboys have been linked to multiple moves to trade up in a wide receiver-heavy 2026 draft, perhaps owner/GM Jerry Jones should consider dangling Pickens as a trade chip. Granted, for Dallas to trade Pickens, he would have to sign his franchise tag first, and the wideout has until July 15 to do so, meaning any potential deals before the draft would need his signature on the contract first.
The Cowboys Should Explore the Market for George Pickens
As things stand now, the Arizona Cardinals and Cleveland Browns sound open to trading down from No. 3 and No. 6, respectively. The Cowboys could use either of those selections to get their hands on Arvell Reese, David Bailey, Rueben Bain Jr, or maybe even Caleb Downs.
The Cardinals may not be interested in Pickens, but he has some obvious ties to the Browns. New Browns head coach Todd Monken was his offensive coordinator at Georgia, and the Browns have a clear need for a WR1.
Maybe there's a way to get Pickens to Northeast Ohio. That way, the Cowboys wouldn't be stuck with two wide receivers making more than $30 million, all while revamping their defense with a foundational piece. The Browns, on the other hand, would get the playmaking wide receiver they covet.
The Cowboys would give up Pickens and the No. 12 pick to move up to No. 6, and to make things even sweeter, they'd still have the Green Bay Packers' No. 20 pick, which they can use to get one of the six potential first-round wide receivers.
Dallas could still land a star to line up opposite CeeDee Lamb, with Omar Cooper Jr., Denzel Boston, and KC Concepcion all potentially up for grabs in the early 20s. This move helps the Cowboys relieve themselves of a huge financial headache while getting a younger, cheaper player with a high upside and adding a building block to a position of need.
Pickens is clearly incredibly talented, but his agent, David Mulugheta, may not want to play ball after how things ended between him and Jerry Jones during the Micah Parsons negotiations. He also happens to be Deshaun Watson's agent, and the best way to make his most controversial client look good in a contract year will be to give him a true WR1. It makes too much sense for all parties.