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HOUSTON, TEXAS – NOVEMBER 02: Bo Nix #10 of the Denver Broncos reacts from the sideline during the NFL 2025 game against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium on November 02, 2025 in Houston, Texas.”” (Photo by Kenneth Richmond/Getty Images)

The Denver Broncos trade rumors, Dallas Cowboys, and Bo Nix all collided this week after a blockbuster offseason prediction.

One analyst suggested Denver could make an aggressive move to upgrade its offense by targeting a proven Pro Bowl wide receiver.

In a list of “crazy” 2026 offseason predictions for CBS Sports, Jordan Dajani projected that the Broncos would acquire George Pickens from the Cowboys.

This would give the Broncos a true No. 1 weapon to pair with quarterback Bo Nix.

Dajani wrote that Denver would “swoop in” with a second-round pick.

He added that Denver would then “immediately lock Pickens into a long-term extension worth roughly $31 million per year.”

With Russell Wilson now off the books, Denver is projected to have between $27 million and $45 million in available cap space.

This would give the Broncos the financial flexibility to absorb a premium contract as they push deeper into contention.

Heading into the offseason, one of the Broncos’ biggest needs is adding a true big-time playmaker on offense.

Pickens would be the ideal fit.

Why Dallas Could Move On From Pickens

The Broncos were initially rumored to make a push to sign him in free agency.

However, those reports were shut down when Adam Schefter reported that Dallas is expected to use the franchise tag on Pickens.

Now, trade rumors are floating.

The franchise tag decision is a move that would give the Cowboys flexibility while also opening the door to a potential trade.

From Dallas’ perspective, tagging and trading Pickens could make sense for several reasons.

The Cowboys are facing tight cap constraints and have pressing needs on the defensive side of the ball.

This makes a massive long-term commitment to another wide receiver difficult to justify.

There are also lingering concerns about Pickens’ history.

Dating back to his time with the Pittsburgh Steelers, his maturity and effort were occasionally questioned.

While he largely stayed out of trouble in 2025, he was benched once for missing the team bus after being out in Las Vegas.

He also faced scrutiny regarding his effort late in the season.

With other big contracts looming, the Cowboys may see premium draft capital as the safer move than rolling the dice on a long-term extension.

Why the Trade Pitch Makes Sense for Denver

George Pickens is coming off a career year with Dallas.

He hauled in 93 passes for 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns.

Pickens earned Second Team All-Pro honors and his first Pro Bowl selection while ranking third in the NFL in receiving yards.

For Denver, the upside is obvious.

Pickens’ 2025 breakout confirmed what evaluators believed for years:

He is an elite, game-changing talent capable of tilting coverage and creating explosive plays.

Pairing that skill set with Bo Nix would immediately elevate the Broncos’ passing attack.

Acquiring Pickens would relieve pressure on a receiver room currently led by Courtland Sutton and unproven younger options.

Denver is also better positioned financially to absorb the risk.

With manageable cap space over the next several seasons and a roster built to contend now, the Broncos can afford to bet on high-end talent.

While this remains a hypothetical trade pitch, it’s easy to see why the idea makes sense.

It would be a dream scenario for the Broncos this offseason.

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