The day before the 2026 NFL Draft, we heard quite a lot from the Dallas Cowboys' brass. Both Jerry and Stephen Jones said plenty about their thoughts leading up to the draft, along with letting everyone in on a huge bit of news regarding wide receiver George Pickens.
With (Stephen) Jones putting it all out there and affirming that the Cowboys will not be giving PIckens a long-term deal, and expect him to play on the franchise tag, that essentially told us that this franchise isn't committed to the former Pittsburgh Steeler in any fashion.
In fact, Pickens being traded before he plays his second season in Dallas isn't even all that crazy, and ESPN's Dan Orlovsky agrees, as he mentioned on the air Thursday when asked if the two sides are headed for a divorce:
"No doubt. Stephen Jones' comment is everything ... they're not paying both CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens top of the market [money]. Stephen Jones just said it.
"If Jordyn Tyson or Carnell Tate fall to no. 12, even though the Cowboys need defensive players, they're going to take one of those receivers, and then the shopping for George Pickens starts ... if the Cowboys get a second-round pick for George Pickens, and they draft a receiver tonight, that's a good job by their front office."
The Dallas Cowboys now have a logical path to make a George Pickens trade make sense
Let me first say, just like every other football fan, I don't always agree with everything Orlovsky says. Let's be honest, many of those camera-facing analysts exist to give their fair share of hot takes.
But, this actually makes a ton of sense.
The Cowboys simply can't pay Pickens top dollar. We know that. So, what are they going to do, just toss another franchise tag on him next year? And potentially create unwanted and unnecessary drama?
Of course not.
The logical option would indeed be to try and draft a wide receiver in this first round all with one plan in mind: trade Pickens for a second rounder and call it a day.
That's excellent business by Jerry and Stephen Jones if it were to unfold this way. It's purely good business.
How many times do we say that about Jerry? Not many.
Should Dallas have the chance to go get someone like Makai Lemon or even Omar Cooper Jr., and another team misses out on one of their top receiver targets in the first round, then it's a match made in heaven. The stars would be aligning quite perfectly (there's a metaphor in there somewhere).
Pickens traded and a rookie wideout drafted? Doesn't sound so crazy, does it?
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