The Dallas Cowboys addressed various holes in the NFL Draft, but they couldn't fix everything after another risk-averse approach in free agency. Most of their money and draft capital went toward the defense, which was hardly surprising given that most of the starting offense was already under contract for 2026.
Bringing back Javonte Williams and George Pickens was enough to ensure every starter on offense returned for Dallas. If the Cowboys had to play a game tomorrow, you'd feel pretty good about their chances of scoring 30 points. That's the benefit of continuity.
While they could use a proven backup behind Williams, Dallas has champagne problems on that side of the ball, especially at wide receiver. And yet, CBS Sports writer Jordan Dajani listed the Cowboys as one of his top landing spots for veteran wideout DeAndre Hopkins.
"... Dallas has CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens out wide for Dak Prescott, but now that Pickens has signed his franchise tag, could he end up being traded? Is he really going to accept playing on this one-year deal?"
For crying out loud.
The Dallas Cowboys aren't trading George Pickens, and they don't need another WR
Is it set in stone that Dallas won't trade Pickens? No, but Stephen Jones doubled (tripled?) down during an appearance on Mad Dog Sports Radio that the Cowboys have zero interest in trading Pickens. They won't negotiate a long-term deal, but they want him on the team next season.
Everything that Pickens does between now and next offseason should be geared toward becoming the NFL's highest-paid receiver. If the Cowboys are hesitant about giving him an extension, odds are other teams feel the same way.
Skipping OTAs and the start of training camp would only reinforce the maturity concerns teams already have about him. As much as Pickens' agent, David Mulugheta, hates the franchise tag, Pickens doesn't really have a choice but to play on it.
Are we good? Cool.
Somehow, Dajani's blurb failed to mention Ryan Flournoy, who finished the year as the undisputed WR3 behind Lamb and Pickens after being cut in August and sitting on the practice squad for nearly three weeks without getting claimed.
A sixth-round pick in 2024, Flournoy caught 40 of 56 targets for 475 yards and four touchdowns. His 111.8 passer rating when targeted ranked 14th among wide receivers, and his 5.0 yards after the catch per reception ranked 19th, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required).
Lamb and Pickens are maybe the best duo in the league, but any conversation about the Cowboys' WR room has to mention Flournoy. His ability to line up in the slot and out wide (104 snaps in the slot and 187 snaps outside, per PFF) allowed Brian Schottenheimer to move Lamb and Pickens all around the formation, which unlocked a new dimension of the offense.
If Flournoy did not break out -- or Dallas were serious about trading Pickens -- we could entertain a conversation about signing Hopkins.
Hopkins was a five-time All-Pro in a six-year span from 2015 to 2020. But he caught just 22 passes in 17 games for the Ravens last season and will turn 34 in June. He was a dominant player once upon a time, but those days are long gone.
The Cowboys make absolutely zero sense as a landing spot.
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