Copyright Yardbarker
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens remains the subject of rumors regarding his uncertain future ahead of the NFL trade deadline, which will arrive at 4 p.m. ET this coming Tuesday, Nov. 4. For a mailbag published on Wednesday, NFL insider Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated was asked if the 3-4-1 Cowboys would be willing to trade Pickens if those running the team don't view its current roster as one capable of winning the Super Bowl in February 2026. Albert Breer predicts how Cowboys will handle George Pickens ahead of trade deadline "My guess is they won’t trade Pickens," Breer wrote about the Cowboys. "He’s on pace for 91 catches, 1,456 yards and 13 touchdowns, and, yes, he’s a free agent after this year. I’d say things are trending toward Pickens being (franchise) tagged in March, which would allow Dallas to either work out a long-term deal, trade him or keep him on the roster for another year." As Breer alluded to, Pickens enters Week 9 leading the Cowboys for the season with 63 targets, 685 receiving yards and six touchdown catches (tied for the team lead with tight end Jake Ferguson). Only Ferguson has tallied more total receptions (51) than Pickens (43) since Week 1. That said, a Dallas team that will need to bolster its defense during the offseason previously handed No. 1 receiver CeeDee Lamb a four-year, $136M deal in August 2024. The following month, the Cowboys signed quarterback Dak Prescott to a four-year extension reportedly worth $240M with $231M guaranteed. Thus, it's fair to ask just how much more money the Cowboys can afford to spend on their offense before next season gets underway. Why Cowboys may not be in a rush to trade George Pickens this fall Observers who think the Cowboys are destined to miss the upcoming postseason tournament have suggested Pickens will never be more valuable to the club than he is as a tradable asset this week. Breer indicated that's not necessarily the case. "I don’t think his trade value now is markedly better than it will be in March, for what that’s worth. So, I’m not sure there’s any benefit to acting now on it, either," Breer added about Pickens. There's no indication the Cowboys will trade Pickens before they host the Arizona Cardinals (2-5) for a "Monday Night Football" showdown on Nov. 3. As of Thursday morning, ESPN BET had Dallas as a 2.5-point favorite for that contest. One wonders if the outcome of the prime-time game will determine if Pickens will still be with the Cowboys on the morning of Nov. 5.
