The Dallas Cowboys swung for the fences last offseason when they traded for George Pickens. His talent was evident, and the upside was clearly there, but there were major red flags about his character and demeanor.
From a football perspective, it was a match made in heaven. He posted career highs all across the board (93 catches, 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns), developing strong chemistry with Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb. However, the Cowboys may not be in a position to keep him for the long run.
NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport reported that the Cowboys will probably use the franchise tag on George Pickens. While that's a safe move, it could also rub him the wrong way and be a precursor for a trade which is why the team should explore all options to replace him this offseason.
What Can the Cowboys do to Replace George Pickens?
The Cowboys would have until July 15 to reach a new deal with Pickens after tagging him. Rapoport also added that the Cowboys could get a second-round pick if they trade Pickens after the tag, and that sounds more likely.
Pickens is represented by David Mulugheta, the same agent who represents Micah Parsons. Negotiations between him and Jerry Jones ended on a sour note, and there's definitely no love lost between both parties. Add Pickens' temper to the mix, and it's hard to believe he'll agree to play under the tag.
The Cowboys are $29.1 million over the salary cap right now, according to Over The Cap. CeeDee Lamb agreed to restructure his deal if that helped keep Pickens in town, but they also have to bolster the secondary, and every penny will count.
As things stand now, the Cowboys will probably be better off replacing him in the NFL Draft. They will be on the clock at No. 12, and star pass catchers like Jordyn Tyson, Kenyon Sadiq, or even Makai Lemon might be up for grabs by the time it's their turn. They would get a potential star on a team-friendly deal, which is great for their cap situation, all while getting a second-round pick for Pickens.
Pickens was -- by far -- the best offensive player on the Cowboys last season, but he's not their only option. CeeDee Lamb is a superstar, and Ryan Flournoy showed that he can also be a major factor in Brian Schottenheimer's passing game.
Despite starting just four games and being a rotatoinal piece, Flournoy hauled in 40 of 56 targets for 475 yards and four touchdowns. He had two games of over 110 receiving yards and stepped up when the Cowboys had some injuries in the passing game.
Of course, replacing a player of Pickens' caliber will always be tough, but his demeanor has always been a concern, and that's not going to change once he gets the first big-money deal of his career. This isn't ideal, but the Cowboys will have plenty of options to choose from in the NFL Draft and some in-house candidates to replace him.