There has been no lack of chatter about Week 7's game being "big," or even "must-win," for the Dallas Cowboys. It's an arguable swing game for the entire 2026 NFL season, which could dramatically alter the team's handling of personnel and other decisions going forward.
One decision that could hang on tonight's outcome is the immediate future of George Pickens.
Pickens has also been a talking point lately, unsurprisingly. After getting called out by Brian Schottenheimer for needing improvement in run blocking, it's made Dallas' franchised receiver a target of trade speculation with the season on the brink of collapse.
Depending on how things go on Monday Night Football in Philadelphia against the Eagles, the idea of trading Pickens could certainly grow legs. First, let's discuss why this one game is so potentially crucial in determining what the future holds.
Dallas Cowboys' season looks very different after a win or loss in Week 7
The Cowboys are 2-4 and hurting badly after two straight losses to the Buccaneers and Packers. They weren't just losses, either; Dallas looked lifeless against Tampa and incompetent in Green Bay. Virtually no coach or player has avoided criticism, and things have come to a head.
Fans went into this season knowing that the defense may have early struggles, but they didn't expect it to be just as bad as last year at times. Fans knew the offense would have to carry the team again, but nobody imagined that they could be as unproductive as they have been the last two weeks.
Between the record and the awful play lately, many are already writing Dallas off for 2026. But if one thing is keeping hope alive, it's the unusually hospitable nature of this year's NFC East.
The Eagles are also 2-4, struggling even before Jalen Hurts' season-ending injury. And despite their and the Cowboys' issues, Washington still can't get ahead of them with a 1-4-1 record.
Stunningly, the New York Giants are 4-2-1 after Sunday's win in Houston against the Texans. John Harbaugh is putting together a strong Coach of the Year argument, overcoming the loss of Jaxson Dart and keeping his new team above water.
But with most of their wins against teams with losing records, it's hard to say how sustainable New York's success is, or what it really means.
If the Cowboys can finally have some success tonight, they'll move to 3-4 and be just two games back of the Giants. New York does have a head-to-head win from Week 1, but Dallas has a chance to nullify that in Week 17.
There's still over half a season to go, leaving so much room for shifts in momentum and the standings.
Now, let's hypothesize a Cowboys loss tonight. A 2-5 record, plus an 0-2 division mark, looks a whole lot worse. A third straight loss, especially against a Philly team missing so many key players, might be the final straw for even some of the most stalwart fans.
If the Cowboys' front office is among those who lose faith, the fallout could be tremendous. Let's focus on the potential impact on George Pickens.
George Pickens may be a valuable trade piece for a future-minded Jerry Jones
While Dallas' front office has maintained that they want Pickens here beyond 2026, that's pretty standard talk in contract negotiations. The same was said about Micah Parsons shortly before he became a Packer.
The bottom line is that what Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb already cost at their positions is prohibitive to keeping another top-tier WR at market value. While a long-term deal with Pickens should bring down his cap hit from the $27.3 million that this year's franchise tag cost, it still ties up a ton of resources while you're also trying to rehab a broken defense.
How much Dallas intended to re-sign Pickens next year, versus letting him walk for a sizeable compensatory pick, is hard to speculate. But if his presence can't even help the team win now, the Cowboys may be more motivated to trade him to a contending team and improve their 2027 draft arsenal.
Remember, Dallas isn't flush with picks after recent trades. They currently stand to have just four in 2027: the Packers' 1st-rounder, their own 2nd, the Steelers' 4th, and the Patriots' 7th. Even if Pickens fetches them a great comp pick, that won't come until the 2028 draft. So, there's a lot of incentive to trade him now and benefit sooner.
But again, that all comes down to the mindset about the here and now. If the Cowboys still see themselves in the fight for the NFC East, then they probably keep pushing forward with Pickens as one of their best assets on offense. But if the Joneses decide to throw in the towel on 2026, Pickens may be one of the first to feel it.
That's why Monday matters so much. The difference between realistic division contention and watching the complete collapse of the Cowboys' season is on the line. Heads could roll on the coaching staff, and more decisions could shift toward long-term goals.
We'll see what happens in Philadelphia and what it means for George Pickens and others with uncertain futures in Dallas.
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