Cowboys rumors: ESPN insider pumps brakes on George Pickens trade anytime soon

The Dallas Cowboys still find themselves in a contract dispute with George Pickens. The veteran wide receiver showed up to Cowboys mandatory minicamp despite not having a long-term contract. But one ESPN analyst is not convinced that this contract standoff will result in the Cowboys getting rid of Pickens.

ESPN’s Dan Graziano made his judgments on some of the biggest overreactions from the 2026 NFL offseason in his latest article.

Graziano claimed that it is an overreaction to assume that Pickens will not play for the Cowboys during the 2027 season.

“First of all, the Cowboys could absolutely franchise Pickens again in 2027,” Graziano wrote. “It would cost them $32.8 million, but there are already six NFL wide receivers averaging more than that per year, and there likely will be more by next March.”

Dallas hit Pickens with the franchise tag earlier this offseason, shutting down discussion of a potential long-term contract extension. It must have been a disappointing outcome for Pickens after his breakout campaign in 2025. He logged career highs with 93 receptions for 1,429 receiving yards and nine touchdowns.

One reason why the situation is so difficult is because the Cowboys already have CeeDee Lamb. He is a superstar receiver in his own right and already received a healthy contract extension.

Some NFL insiders have already begun to worry about Dallas keeping both Pickens and Lamb on multi-year contracts.

But if Pickens has another breakout season in 2026, the Cowboys could be forced into an awkward situation.

“They’ve made it clear they’d like to see more before making any long-term decisions about him,” Graziano concluded. “He now has the opportunity to give them a difficult decision next offseason if he does everything they’re asking him to do.”

The first step for Pickens is having another incredible season later this fall.

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