Getty
George Pickens #3 of the Dallas Cowboys.
The Dallas Cowboys have a critical decision to make during the upcoming 2026 NFL offseason. Of course, that decision has to do with the future of wide receiver George Pickens.
Last offseason shortly after the 2025 NFL Draft, the Cowboys made a trade with the Pittsburgh Steelers to acquire Pickens. In his first year with the team, he played at a star caliber level.
During the 2025 season, Pickens played in all 17 regular season games. He caught 93 passes for 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns. Pickens was exactly the kind of No. 2 wide receiver that Dallas needed behind CeeDee Lamb.
Those numbers were all career-highs for Pickens. A change of scenery away from Pittsburgh seemed to be exactly what he needed to take the next step in his career. However, he is set to become a free agent this offseason.
With that being said, the Cowboys can make one of four decisions. They could re-sign Pickens, place the franchise tag on him, let him walk in free agency, or trade him. Making a move to re-sign him would be the ideal scenario and they’re likely not going to allow him to walk for free in free agency.
Keeping that in mind, a new prediction has come in about Pickens’ future that would see Dallas decide to trade him away.
Dallas Cowboys Predicted to Trade George Pickens This Offseason
CBS Sports analyst Jordan Dajani made 10 “crazy” predictions for the NFL offseason. One of those predictions was that Dallas would trade Pickens to the Denver Broncos.
“That’s when the Broncos swoop in and give the Cowboys a second-round pick for the wideout, then sign Pickens to a multi-year extension that pays him an average of $31 million per year,” Dajani wrote. “Bo Nix needs upgraded weaponry if the Broncos want to reach that next level. Pickens is that big-play weapon Broncos fans have been praying for.”
It’s important to note that Dajani’s article is titled “crazy” predictions for a reason. The Cowboys would prefer not to trade away and cut ties with Pickens.
More than likely, the worst-case scenario for the two parties would be that the 24-year-old wide receiver plays the 2026 season on the franchise tag. Jerry Jones and copmany could choose to tag Pickens and then work on a long-term deal with him.
Expect to hear plenty of rumors surrounding Pickens as free agency draws closer.
Which Teams Could Have Interest in Stealing Pickens from Dallas?
Quite a few teams have a need at the wide receiver position. A few of them have already been linked to Pickens.
Outside of the Broncos, there are a few teams to keep a close eye on. The Buffalo Bills, Green Bay Packers, and New York Jets are all teams to watch. Another team who could have interest would be the Las Vegas Raiders or potentially the New England Patriots.
If Pickens is made available or hits the open free agency market, teams are going to come calling.
Fans should expect to see the Cowboys find a way to bring Pickens back next season. After such an impressive first year in Dallas, it would be surprising to see him playing somewhere else in 2026.
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
More Heavy on Cowboys
Loading more stories