The Cowboys aren’t necessarily out of the mix in a weak NFC East, but this season has not gone according to plan in Dallas.
At 3-5, the Cowboys have constantly taken one step forward and two steps back through eight weeks, with an upset loss to the Cardinals the latest blow to any hopes Jerry Jones had for his team in 2026.
The Cowboys are rarely one to sell off pieces midseason, but as the season spirals, WR George Pickens could become a central figure of trade discussion ahead of Tuesday’s deadline.
Here’s a look at why the Cowboys should — and shouldn’t — deal Pickens before the deadline.
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George Pickens contract
Pickens is playing on the $27.3 million franchise tag and is set to be a free agent after the season.
A breakthrough year from Pickens in 2025 didn’t lead to a new contract this past offseason. The talented receiver’s rookie deal expired in March, but the Cowboys immediately placed their franchise tag on him. Despite having four months to work out a long-term deal, Pickens and the Cowboys didn’t come close to an agreement; the Cowboys said in April that they didn’t even plan to talk about a new deal with Pickens after the draft.
The lack of progress toward an agreement led to some speculation that Pickens could be traded before the 2026 season. That didn’t happen, as Dallas had plans on contending, but a 3-5 start has the possibility of a trade back on the minds of many.
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George Pickens trade rumors
Insider Jordan Schultz reported teams around the NFL are “starting to get curious about” Pickens’ availability with the Cowboys sitting at 3-5, though it’s unclear whether Dallas is actually considering dealing the receiver.
Considering Jerry Jones has been active on the trade market, albeit as a buyer, over the last year-plus, it certainly could be possible that he listens to those interested teams.
Should the Cowboys make a move, though? Here’s the case for and against a Pickens trade.
Why Cowboys should trade George Pickens
The Cowboys probably have to be realistic about what kind of team they are. Can they win the NFC East? Considering what the rest of the division looks like, the answer is still “yes.” Is chasing a division title worth losing Pickens for nothing? Probably not.
The idea that Dallas can go into the playoffs at 8-9 or 9-8 and make a deep run, particularly when a team from the loaded NFC North would likely be waiting on wild-card weekend, is far-fetched, to say the least. The Cowboys have shown no indication that their defense is even close to being fixed, and the offense isn’t performing at the level it did last season.
If the Cowboys come to the conclusion that it isn’t worth chasing an unlikely scenario, the question they have to ask themselves is whether they have a legitimate chance to re-sign Pickens. Only they know the size of the gap between their offer and Pickens’ demands, but this past offseason offered no indication that the two were close on a deal.
Pickens hasn’t had the season he had in 2025, but he’s still on pace for more than 1,100 yards and hasn’t caused any major problems. If the Cowboys can get something of value for Pickens, even as a rental, it might allow them to allocate some assets where they really need them: the defense.
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Why Cowboys shouldn’t trade George Pickens
The biggest impediment to a trade might not be the Cowboys’ NFC East chances, but the difficulty finding real value on the trade market.
Pickens is a remarkably talented player, but he is a rental. Any team that trades for Pickens might just be getting eight games out of him, and it’s tough to convince front offices to part ways with major assets for such a limited window of production.
Does that mean no team would want to trade for Pickens? Of course not. Even after some distractions he created with the Steelers, his talent alone would be a major boost to any receiver-needy contender.
It does, however, mean that the Cowboys might see uninspiring offers for Pickens and decide it just makes more sense to hold onto him, make a run at the NFC East and at least have a window after the season to work out a long-term deal.
