George Pickens is playing under the franchise tag this year, but CBS Sports’ Jordan Dajani just dropped a bombshell: the Dallas Cowboys need to move him, and fast. The proposed deal? The Las Vegas Raiders send a second-round pick to Dallas, and the Cowboys get rid of their All-Pro receiver, solving a massive cap headache and giving Frisco a crucial asset for the future. With the trade deadline looming, this could be the big play.
The Pickens Problem Is Bigger Than You Think
Let’s be real, Pickens is a huge talent, an All-Pro for a reason. But he’s due a monstrous contract, we’re talking around $35 million annually. Doubts are swirling, and Dajani pointed out that the Cowboys’ ability to pay him is a huge question mark, especially with Joey Porter Jr. also needing a big deal soon. Selling high on a pending free agent is the smart move here, especially when you’re looking at a second-round pick for a player who might not even be on the roster next year. The guy even missed Sunday’s game due to injury. Dan Graziano from ESPN said it straight up: Pickens, the wide receiver on the franchise tag who looks like he is out of future plans, is the primary trade asset the Cowboys have.
The Raiders Are Desperate For A Real Threat
On the other side of this, you’ve got the Las Vegas Raiders, whose wide receiver group is, frankly, one of the weakest in the entire league. Tre Tucker leads them with just 474 yards, and Jalen Nailor is way down at 113 yards. Can you imagine Pickens in that offense? He’d be a game-changer for Fernando Mendoza, a genuine perimeter threat. His 533 receiving yards this season would already lead all Raiders wide receivers. This guy was third in the NFL for receiving yards last season! He’s an elite deep threat who would stretch the field and open up the running game instantly. Plus, with Las Vegas not paying a quarterback, they’ve got the cap flexibility to drop substantial money on an elite pass catcher. Getting Pickens for a second-round pick? That’s a steal for them, even if he’s going to demand $35 million annually.
Dallas Needs Draft Capital, And Pickens Is The Key
Owner Jerry Jones already argued that bringing in Joey Porter Jr. last month was “this year’s trade deadline move,” but come on. This team needs way more help on defense, and the roster is seriously thin on draft capital. We only have four picks in 2027! Any trade the team makes needs to be a blockbuster to fix that. Stephen Jones said trade discussions are “pretty quiet on our front” on Monday, but the Eagles just shipped defensive tackle Jordan Davis to Jacksonville for a first-round pick. That’s the kind of move we need. The Cowboys are sitting at 4-5 with eight games left, and they’ve only beaten two teams with winning records since coach Brian Schottenheimer was hired. Selling high on Pickens to grab a second-round pick, maybe even some late-rounders for other players, and restocking that draft capital is the only logical path forward. It’s time to pull the trigger.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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