On Sunday, league sources reported that the Dallas Cowboys are expected to place their franchise tag on wide receiver George Pickens.
Pickens, who is coming off a career-year, is widely regarded as the top player at his position who is eligible to hit the free agency market. It does not appear, though, that the Cowboys will allow that to happen.
However, the tag does not mean that Pickens will play for the Cowboys in 2026. Additional reports indicated that a tag-and-trade is a possibility, and should Dallas elect to go down that route, there will undoubtedly be an abundance of calls coming its way.
More NFL Content From TWSN:
The Tua Tagovailoa Situation Points To The NFL’s Biggest Problem
Four NFL Teams That Should Trade For Justin Jefferson
Way Too Early 2026 NFL Power Rankings: Post Super Bowl
Cowboys Trade George Pickens to Saints in Offseason Proposal
With New Orleans having made waves at the end of the 2025 season, the team could look to build momentum and carry out a move for one of the NFL’s budding stars.
A Strained Financial Situation
The Cowboys currently sit at $29.2 million over the salary cap. With a projected positional tag value of $28.8 million, bringing back Pickens would almost double that total.
If the Cowboys wanted to keep Pickens, they would be forced to massively restructure existing contracts and/or release other players. Any deferral of money to fit Pickens under the cap would complicate matters down the line should Dallas wish to make additions to its roster.
For a team that had a historically-bad defense in 2025 and wishes to compete in 2026, designating significant money towards a talented yet replaceable offensive player may be a poor choice.
Moreover, as a result of several trades in the past year, the Cowboys do not own any picks in the second or third round of the 2026 NFL Draft. This is a noteworthy limitation for a team that must hit on multiple difference-makers to become true contenders.
Fortifying the Foundation
After winning four of their last five games to close out the 2025 campaign, the New Orleans Saints come into the offseason with newfound hope for the future.
A large part behind the team’s late-season success was the impressive play of rookie quarterback Tyler Shough. Across nine starts, Shough threw for 2,256 yards, good for an average of more than 250 per game. Despite the restricted playing time, the young man still finished second in Offensive Rookie of the Year voting.
While you wouldn’t know it seeing the stats that he was able to put up, Shough’s supporting cast was easily one of the worst in the league. Outside of Chris Olave, who was selected as a member of the NFL’s All-Pro Second Team, the Saints did not finish the year holding a wideout that eclipsed 300 receiving yards on the season.
Enter George Pickens. In the 2025 season, the fourth-year wideout compiled 93 receptions for 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns. Should the Saints trade for Pickens, it would suddenly own one of the premier receiving duos in the NFL.
Additionally, both Pickens and Olave are 25 years old or younger, meaning the Saints would possess a pair of players entering their prime for years to come. While New Orleans would have their own finances to work out to create room for Pickens, the substantial boost that he would provide for Shough’s development would be well worth the hassle.
The Trade
Saints receive: WR George Pickens
Cowboys receive: Saints’ 2026 second-round pick (No. 42), 2027 conditional third-round pick
In this deal, the Saints bypass the headache of a free agency battle and trade a pair of premium draft picks for Pickens. The team then signs their new receiver to a lucrative, long-term deal.
The 2027 conditional third-round pick would elevate to a second-rounder should Pickens play at least 75% of New Orleans’ offensive snaps in 2026. Barring injury, it’s almost a certainty that this criteria is met, enticing the Cowboys to agree to the swap.
Pickens’ departure evidently leaves a sizable hole in Dallas’ offense. For this reason, it becomes likely that the Cowboys look to attack the position at a much cheaper cost with their newly-acquired pick. Prospects such as Chris Brazell (University of Tennessee) and Chris Bell (University of Louisville) stand out as receivers who are expected to be drafted in that range that fit Pickens’ mold.
Related
Subscribe to the TWSN Newsletter for original reporting, bold opinions, and real analysis across NFL, NBA, UFC, College Football, and more.
Straight to your inbox. Always authentic.
Sign up now and never miss a moment.