The Dallas Cowboys never appeared interested in trading George Pickens ahead of the NFL trade deadline. As it turns out, they weren't even receiving calls about their star wide receiver.
According to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, the Cowboys did not receive any trade inquiries for Pickens, who reportedly is happy in Dallas and had no interest in being moved. Fowler also noted that teams looking for help at receiver weren't interested in paying the price for a high-end option, making a potential deal a nonstarter. In other words, much of the speculation surrounding Pickens' future was just noise.
Dallas entered the deadline with a 4-5 record and plenty of questions about its direction. With the Cowboys struggling to stay in the playoff picture and Pickens approaching free agency, it wasn't unreasonable to wonder whether the organization would consider moving him.
However, the Cowboys apparently had no intention of going down that road.
What's interesting is Pickens' reported happiness in Dallas. The wide receiver did not receive the long-term contract he wanted and is playing on the franchise tag, leaving his future with the organization uncertain beyond this season. He's also attached to a team that could find itself watching the playoffs from home.
You would think those circumstances might make a change of scenery appealing, especially with a potentially lucrative contract waiting for him in free agency. Yet Fowler's reporting suggests Pickens is comfortable with where he is.
That doesn't mean the Cowboys have figured out their long-term plans for him. Dallas still has to determine whether it can afford to keep both Pickens and CeeDee Lamb together, and the receiver's contract situation will eventually need to be addressed.