Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens wants a long-term contract, and he may be willing to seek out a trade to make that happen. A second-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, the Georgia product originally found success with Mike Tomlin and the Pittsburgh Steelers. Proving himself to be an above-average starter, Pickens enjoyed plenty of on-field success during his first three seasons in the league. However, the Steelers weren’t comfortable with his off-field antics and traded him to the Dallas Cowboys during the 2025 offseason.
This change of scenery proved to be a blessing in disguise, as George Pickens responded with the best season of his career. Appearing in all 17 games, the fourth-year wideout finished the season with 93 receptions for 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns on 137 targets, all of which were career highs. Pickens was supposed to be a free agent following this breakout year and easily could have earned a massive deal on the open market.
However, the Dallas Cowboys used the franchise tag to keep the wide receiver in town for another season. Despite his strong play, multiple reports across the league indicate that Dallas isn’t comfortable with handing out a long-term contract and doesn’t want to negotiate one at this point in time. This apparently didn’t sit well with Pickens, and ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler recently reported that George Pickens looked for a trade partner before signing his one-year deal.
“Well, my understanding is Pickens at least looked around, gauged his market, what a potential trade could look like if he could come to one with compensation and a new deal,” Fowler said. “He wants a long-term contract, so this isn’t an ideal situation for him.”
George Pickens Trade Update: Cowboys WR “Looked Around”
Fowler goes on to add that he doesn’t expect a trade, and that George Pickens would prefer to be in Dallas if all else remained equal. However, while the wide receiver will most likely spend the 2026 season with the Cowboys, we can’t rule out a trade. Game-breaking wide receivers are hard to find, and one of the following three teams could make a move in the coming months if the stars align.
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs must do whatever they can to make life easier for star quarterback Patrick Mahomes as he returns from his ACL injury. Rashee Rice is a proven WR1, and the addition of Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker will put less strain on the passing game, but the depth on this roster needs some work. Tight end Travis Kelce is still a good player, but he’s not the unstoppable force he once was, and first-round pick Xavier Worthy has yet to live up to his pre-draft pedigree. A George Pickens trade would ensure Mahomes has at least two dangerous pass-catchers on the field at all times, and the wide receiver could help the Chiefs win some high-scoring affairs as the defense adjusts to life with cornerbacks Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson.
Los Angeles Chargers
Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh believes in winning games on the ground, but it wouldn’t hurt to invest more in the passing game. Ladd McConkey is a solid starter, and Quentin Johnston has improved in recent seasons, but neither player is a game-changing talent. Justin Herbert is one of the game’s best quarterbacks, and he deserves all the credit in the world for dragging a flawed roster to the playoffs last year. However, if this team wants to finally play meaningful games in late January, they must trade for someone like George Pickens.
New England Patriots
Everyone in the world knows the New England Patriots will trade for wide receiver A.J. Brown at some point after June 1st. However, if George Pickens is available, they’d be foolish not to look at a potential George Pickens trade. Both wide receivers come with their fair share of attitude concerns, but Pickens is younger and has more gas in his tank. If Philadelphia’s asking price for Brown is too high, New England might as well see what it would cost to pair Pickens with MVP-caliber quarterback Drake Maye for the next decade.
