In the latest Dallas Cowboys rumors, the team may be forced to let $27M wide receiver George Pickens explore a trade once the 2026 season is over. While Pickens won’t reportedly hold out this year, it doesn’t mean he is truly happy with the current contract he’s under. Entering the 2026 offseason, the wideout hoped, but after the lack of negotiations, the Cowboys decided to slap a tag on the receiver. It doesn’t mean the team can’t get a deal done, but they’re likely waiting until next offseason to see if he replicates what he did in the 2025 season.
Selected as a second-round pick, the All-Pro was originally traded to the Cowboys last offseason by the Pittsburgh Steelers due to maturity issues. Luckily for Dallas, the receiver hasn’t shown any signs of that last season. The wideout hauled in 93 receptions for 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns, all career-highs, and now the team waits to see if it’s worth moving the needle on a new deal. However, the team may have cost themselves the receiver after deciding to tag him rather than agreeing on a new deal.
Cowboys Rumors: $27M Star May Force Trade in 2027
Long-term Deal a Concern?
Well, of course, there is always that concern. After refusing to pay Micah Parsons last offseason, the team shockingly traded the edge rusher to the Green Bay Packers. This isn’t to compare situations, but if the Cowboys continue to stall talks and re-think throughout the negotiation process, they’re probably shooting themselves in the foot. According to Jason La Canfora, Pickens’ camp is concerned about a franchise tag coming once again next offseason.
They have every right to be concerned. Dallas’ front office has always been known for stalling out new deals for their star playmakers and leaders, including Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb. Lamb even had to sit out until he earned a new contract, and Prescott was close to being traded at some point. With this, nobody should rule out the idea of seeing their top star leave in 2027 for a team that will pay him.
A Trade When?
Let’s assume that Pickens has another All-Pro season, and he’s proven that he’s the answer to the offensive pass-attack. Are the Cowboys prepared to make him the highest-paid receiver? Probably not. The receiver market has been reset thanks to Seattle Seahawks Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who led the team to a championship and leads the pact with $42.15MM per year. It’s safe to say that the former Steelers second-rounder will be looking for a deal similar to Smith-Njigba’s.
While many believe that a trade could happen during the 2026 season, it’s unlikely. Unless Dallas has one of those “fluke” campaigns, they could fully embrace the rebuild and finally let their top wideout go elsewhere. However, the chances of that happening are slim. Pickens is projected to hit free agency either way in 2027 if a trade doesn’t happen.
This is where it might get weird. If Dallas has a season where they went to the NFC Championship Game and lost, Pickens has another solid year, and gets slapped with a tag… what happens next? This is probably every Dallas fan’s worst nightmare here. If this organization truly wants to elevate its roster in the long haul, it must put its money where its mouth is and pay up. The Cowboys can’t afford to mismanage one of the best pass-catchers anyone has seen in the last decade.
What Now?
It’s all sunshine and rainbows right now for Dallas. They don’t have to worry about negotiating until next year. However, if Pickens has one of those blockbuster seasons, Dallas fans are hoping a deal is waiting for him at the end of the 2026 campaign.
