All in all, it appears that the Dallas Cowboys do not have much of a problem with the way that the franchise-tag situation played out for star receiver George Pickens. No doubt, Pickens had an exceptional season in 2025, going for 1,426 yards on 93 catches, and putting himself into the conversation as a guy who should be paid like an elite receiver. The cost of the tag–a one-year, $27 million contract–certainly is hefty, but it’s nothing like the estimated four-year, $140 million deal Pickens might get on the open market.
The Cowboys have made it clear that they’re not inclined to negotiate further with Pickens while he is on the tag, though there is a window up until July 15 in which the sides could work out a long-term deal. But Dallas has already pushed out significant dead money into the future and wants to see if Pickens can repeat what he did last year before giving him a lengthy, top-of-the-market contract.
In the meantime, though, the Cowboys could make a bold move: They could pluck a wide receiver in this month’s draft and give themselves some leverage in case they decide to let Pickens walk.
Cowboys Eyeing George Pickens Help/Replacement?
That’s the thesis from Bleacher Report, which projects that the Cowboys could fill a “surprising” need in the draft by going with a wide receiver with the No. 20 pick, their second pick of the first round.
In an article titled, “1 Surprising Need Each NFL Team Could Address in 2026 NFL Draft,” the site writes, “The prospect of the Cowboys using one of their two first-round picks on a receiver would be surprising, but it would also put the rest of the league’s defenses on notice.
“There are bigger needs on the board, but the reality is that Pickens is on the franchise tag. The Cowboys might not be able to afford keeping him long term and giving Prescott three receivers who can beat man coverage could be a cheat code to relevance.”
Among the targets at No. 20 would be Makai Lemon, Omar Cooper and KC Concepcion. The Cowboys have also had rehabbing receiver Chris Bell from Louisville in for Top 30 a visit, as well as Cooper.
GettyGeorge Pickens #3 of the Dallas Cowboys
Defense, Defense, Defense
There might be some logic to the suggestion of the Cowboys getting another receiver as a brace against Pickens leaving in free agency next year, especially if Lemon is still on the board. But that logic quickly drains when put into the context of the Dallas defense and just how bad it was. The Cowboys frequently invest more in the offense than in the defense, but to use the 20th pick to choose a receiver would ignite some well-deserved backlash.
The Cowboys are expected to pick an edge rusher and a defensive back in the first round, and if they’re going to make an early pick for offensive help, it’d likely be a lineman.
Cowboys Already Have a George Pickens No. 3
Moreover, it remains remarkable how few observers recognize that the Cowboys have a solid No. 3 option on the roster already, and perhaps a future No. 2–Ryan Flournoy, who is increasingly looking like a sixth-round hit from the 2024 draft. Flournoy had 40 catches for 475 yards last year, and twice had 100-yard games when CeeDee Lamb was injured.
A receiver would not be just a surprising pick for the Cowboys. It’d be a shock.
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