The Dallas Cowboys are reeling at a dismal 3-5 this 2026 NFL season, fresh off a heartbreaking overtime loss to the Arizona Cardinals. Now, with the NFL trade deadline barreling down in Week 9, the team faces a gut-wrenching decision: buy, sell, or stand pat, especially with George Pickens at the center of growing trade rumors. Even with the NFC East looking wide open thanks to the Philadelphia Eagles’ complete collapse, Dallas just can’t get it together.
ESPN Analyst Drops a Bomb on Cowboys’ Future
ESPN’s Ben Solak isn’t holding back, calling a seriously bold shot on the Cowboys’ immediate future. Solak is predicting that Dallas won’t just struggle, they’ll actually lose their Week 9 matchup against the Indianapolis Colts. If that happens, dropping the Cowboys to an abysmal 3-6, Solak believes Pickens will be frustrated enough that the team makes a move and ships him out before next Tuesday’s trade deadline.
Now, let’s be real, a loss to the Colts would be a massive upset. Indianapolis has already started selling off pieces, and they looked absolutely helpless against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 8. If the Cowboys somehow lose that game, they’d truly have no choice but to start selling, too. But here’s the kicker: even if the Cowboys manage to pull off a win against the Colts, the idea of trading Pickens actually makes a ton of sense for this team.
Why Trading Pickens Is The Brutal Truth For Dallas
Forget the Colts game for a second. The deeper dive into why a Pickens trade makes sense for the Cowboys is pretty stark. Both George Pickens and Joey Porter Jr. are set to hit free agency after this season. It’s going to be incredibly difficult to keep both unless one signs an extension and Jerry Jones can slap the franchise tag on the other. That’s a tight spot to be in.
Instead, dealing Pickens would let the Cowboys recoup some desperately needed draft capital, especially with Ryan Flournoy emerging as a legitimate threat. Dallas is in a bit of a pickle when it comes to draft picks, only holding 10 picks between the 2027 and 2028 NFL Drafts because they’ve parted with so much value over the last year. With the 2026 season clearly not going anywhere positive, trading Pickens could net the Cowboys multiple picks, potentially even a third-rounder. It’s a painful thought, but for a team staring down a losing season and an empty draft cupboard, moving Pickens by the November 10 deadline is the logical, albeit tough, play.
The Cowboys stare down their Week 9 matchup against the Indianapolis Colts with more than just a game on the line. While an upset loss would truly cement their selling status, the deeper truth is that trading George Pickens by the November 10 deadline looks like a painfully logical move for a team desperately trying to salvage its future draft capital. Will Jerry Jones 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 The Sporting News.
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