The George Pickens distraction just won’t go away. Multiple reports during the NFL Draft suggested Pickens was set to sign his franchise tag tender, and the timing couldn’t have been more suspicious, with the Dallas Cowboys about to go on the clock twice in Round 1. It only fueled the belief that a trade might be brewing.
A trade did not come to pass, suggesting that Pickens would sign the tender and nip any potential contract nonsense in the bud.
That hasn’t materialized. The Cowboys are still waiting on Pickens to sign, and he was a no-show for the start of voluntary workouts on Monday. It’s not a major concern on its own, but it stands out given everything that’s unfolded.
Amid the uncertainty, Dallas has signed veteran receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling to a one-year deal, per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.
The Dallas Cowboys have reportedly signed veteran WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling
Because it's the Cowboys, some will inevitably connect the addition of Marquez Valdes-Scantling to George Pickens’ future. That could not be further from the truth. The timing is odd, sure, but adding a depth piece immediately following the NFL Draft is very common.
Not to mention, the Cowboys were in the mix for a WR during the draft. They showed interest in Arizona State's Jordyn Tyson, but ultimately didn't address the position until their last pick, taking East Carolina standout Anthony Smith at pick No. 218.
Valdes-Scantling was not signed to replace Pickens. If he sticks with the team until training camp, odds are he'll compete with Jonathan Mingo for the WR4 job behind Pickens, CeeDee Lamb, and second-year breakout Ryan Flournoy.
If anything, signing MVS says more about Mingo than it does Pickens.
A two-time Super Bowl champ with the Kansas City Chiefs, Valdes-Scantling has not had more than 600 yards receiving since 2022. He split time with the San Francisco 49ers and Pittsburgh Steelers last season, catching 14 passes for 120 yards and a touchdown in his age-31 season.
The Cowboys’ receiver room thins out quickly after the top three. Valdes-Scantling is a camp body brought in to push younger players competing for roster spots.
That's all this is.
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