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CBS Sports's Bryan DeArdo argued the Dallas Cowboys should still trade wide receiver George Pickens even though he just signed the NFL's franchise tag.
Things appear to be settling down around the Dallas Cowboys and wide receiver George Pickens. Cowboys executive Stephen Jones told reporters just before the 2026 NFL Draft that they wouldn’t negotiate a long-term deal with Pickens this offseason.
Pickens, though, quickly signed the franchise tag tender. That means he has agreed to play the 2026 campaign on a 1-year deal worth roughly $27 million.
But CBS Sports’s Bryan DeArdo still doesn’t see the receiver as pleased with the contract. DeArdo actually feels so strongly about that that on Sunday, he named the Cowboys trading Pickens as one of the ten post-NFL Draft moves that need to happen.
“Dallas already said that Pickens will play under the franchise tag, which appears to be a recipe for disaster given his history of self-sabotage when things don’t go his way. If the Cowboys want to avoid another drama-filled season, they would be better served either giving Pickens a long-term deal or trading him to a team that will,” wrote DeArdo.
The more realistic scenario appears to be the Cowboys trading Pickens, whose production during his first four seasons has largely been overshadowed by his antics.
Dave Holcomb is a sports reporter covering the NFL and MLB for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Pittsburgh Steelers and a variety of other NFL teams. Originally from Pittsburgh, Holcomb has covered college and professional sports for outlets including FanSided, Rotowire and Yardbarker. More about Dave Holcomb