George Pickens had a breakout season with the Dallas Cowboys, setting career highs with 93 receptions, 1,429 receiving yards, and nine touchdowns. With his rookie contract expiring, Pickens is set to command a salary north of $30 million. While both he and the Cowboys have expressed interest in staying together, paying him that much on top of CeeDee Lamb’s $34 million per year could be tricky.
The Cowboys certainly have the financial resources to keep Pickens, but there are complications. Superstar agent David Mulugheta, who played a major role in Micah Parsons’ blockbuster contract, could push for a hardline negotiation, making a long-term deal less straightforward. That’s why some analysts, including K.D. Drummond from Cowboys Wire, have floated the idea of a trade as a possible alternative.
Drummond didn’t claim a trade is likely—he explored what kind of compensation the Cowboys could realistically receive. Comparing Pickens to recent wide receiver trades, he found the most accurate comparison might be A.J. Brown when he moved to the Eagles. Pickens doesn’t have the resume of Davante Adams, Tyreek Hill, or Julio Jones at the times of their trades, but his career trajectory could align with a young, productive receiver in his prime.
Based on recent deals, Drummond projects Pickens’ trade value to be roughly equivalent to a first-round pick between 18th and 24th overall in the NFL draft. While intriguing, the bigger question for Dallas might be how to preserve the explosive offense that has Dak Prescott thriving.
Keeping Pickens and Lamb together would give the Cowboys’ passing game one of the league’s most dynamic duos. A trade could bring draft capital, but potentially at the cost of disrupting the chemistry that has made Dallas’ offense so dangerous.
