The Dallas Cowboys are set to enter the 2026 NFL Draft with two first-round picks, and Thursday has the chance to get chaotic for Dallas. There have already been predictions that the first round, in general, will be full of chaos, and the Cowboys could be right in the middle of that with possible trades.
While plenty of analysts have acknowledged that Dallas could trade into the top 10, ESPN insider Adam Schefter recently hinted at the possibility of an even bigger trade. Appearing on ESPN’s Get Up on Wednesday morning, Schefter explained that the Cowboys haven’t made any progress on a possible George Pickens extension, saying that they are not really talking about an extension.
While that, unfortunately, isn’t surprising considering how Dallas does business, what Schefter said next was newsworthy. The insider connected Pickens’ lack of an extension to the Cowboys’ reported interest in top receiver prospect Jordyn Tyson.
Adam Schefter says George Pickens’ contract situation is interesting 'subplot' in the 2026 Draft
"They’re nowhere with George Pickens right now. NOWHERE with George Pickens."@AdamSchefter provides an update on the Cowboys ahead of the NFL draft ✍️ pic.twitter.com/C4gQveBPK4
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) April 22, 2026
Tyson is projected to be a top-10 pick entering the draft, so if Dallas is determined to get him, the franchise might not be able to wait at pick No. 12. The Cowboys could have to trade up into the top 10 to get him, which isn’t a problem since the team is reportedly already considering doing that anyway.
However, if Dallas trades up, the team is expected to do so for a defensive player. The Cowboys moving up for a receiver, when their offense is already lightyears ahead of the defense, would certainly be a shocking decision. It would also raise questions about Pickens’ future in Dallas.
While the Cowboys have been adamant that George Pickens isn’t going anywhere anytime soon, the fact that they aren’t having contract talks at all isn’t a good sign, and questions will definitely arise if the team uses its first pick on a wideout.
It’s also fair to ask if Pickens could be used as a piece in a possible trade-up. Since he isn’t technically under contract, that makes that path more complicated. Pickens would have to sign off to facilitate a sign-and-trade, and that would likely take another team coming in and offering Pickens a long-term contract extension.
While situations like that have happened during the first round of the draft, it would be a wild outcome if that’s how the George Pickens era in Dallas suddenly ended.
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