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George Pickens #3 of the Dallas Cowboys could make an interesting Patriots trade target this offseason.
Heading into the 2026 NFL offseason, the Dallas Cowboys are facing a pressing situation with impending free agent wide receiver George Pickens.
After making a trade to acquire Pickens from the Pittsburgh Steelers following the 2025 NFL Draft, the young wideout put on a show. He emerged as a star-caliber wide receiver throughout his first year with the Cowboys. Now, the team has to try and keep him.
It’s possible that Jerry Jones and company could simply choose to place the franchise tag on him. Or, they could try to work out a long-term contract with Pickens.
Rumors have also circulated that Dallas could end up trading Pickens away. If the Cowboys don’t see a pathway to a long-term deal, trading him for some kind of value would be better than losing him for nothing.
Unfortunately, some concerning news has emerged about Pickens as a potential trade chip.
Dallas Cowboys Get Bad George Pickens Update
According to Nick Harris of The Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Pickens’ trade value may not be what the Cowboys expect to be able to get.
One AFC scout believes, as shared by Harris, Dallas likely could get a trade package worth a second-round pick and a late-round pick swap. That would not be an ideal scenario for the Cowboys if they are forced to move on from the talented wideout.
At the end of the day, re-signing Pickens would be the ideal scenario. He could be a great long-term cornerstone piece of the puzzle for the Dallas offense.
Should the Cowboys end up looking to trade Pickens, a second-round pick would give them the ability to pursue a wide receiver. However, the trade value being a second-round pick and a late-round pick swap would not move the needle of contention as much as simply keeping him in town.
Pickens Has the Makings of a Potential Superstar
During the 2025 NFL season with Dallas, the 24-year-old wideout played in all 17 regular season games. He racked up 93 receptions for 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns.
In his first three years with the Steelers, Pickens showed signs of stardom. He was never able to reach his full potential, but the signs were clear.
With a change of scenery for the Cowboys, Pickens has a career year. He’s just starting to scratch the surface of his potential as well. Letting him get away could end up being a massive mistake by Dallas.
More than likely, the Cowboys will slap the franchise tag on Pickens. After making that move, the team will have some time to work out a long-term extension. Jones and the front office have recently struggled to work out a long-term deal with Micah Parsons, but this situation gives them a second chance.
Expect to hear a lot of news about Pickens and Dallas early in the offseason. No one knows what will end up happening, but it has been very clear that the Cowboys would like to bring him back for 2026 and beyond.
Evan Massey Evan Massey is a sports reporter and analyst located in Indianapolis, Indiana who covers the NFL, NBA, MLB, WNBA, and college sports. He has been featured on many publications, including Newsweek, Athlon Sports, ESPN, Yahoo! Sports, Forbes, Bleacher Report, Sporting News, and many others. In his free time, Evan enjoys spending time with his wife and son. More about Evan Massey
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